Daijiworld Media Network – Sonipat

Sonipat, May 18: In a development that has stirred both academic and political circles, Dr. Ali Khan Mahmudabad, an associate professor and head of the political science department at Ashoka University, was arrested on Sunday in connection with his recent social media remarks about Operation Sindoor.

Confirming the arrest, Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ajeet Singh stated that Prof. Mahmudabad was taken into custody from Delhi following a complaint filed by a BJP Yuva Morcha leader. The complaint was lodged over statements made by the professor concerning Operation Sindoor, which the complainant alleged were disrespectful and inflammatory.

Operation Sindoor, conducted in the early hours of May 7, involved targeted strikes by Indian armed forces on terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Colonel Sofiya Qureshi had briefed the media post-operation, drawing praise from across the nation.

However, Prof. Mahmudabad’s social media posts, in which he described the media briefings as "optics" and questioned the sincerity behind celebrating women officers without addressing deeper issues like mob lynchings and property demolitions, drew severe backlash. The Haryana State Commission for Women took suo motu cognisance of his remarks and issued a notice dated May 12.

“We salute the country’s daughters – Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh. But the kind of words the professor has used are disheartening. I expected he would at least appear before the commission and express regret,” said commission chairperson Renu Bhatia.

The professor, however, defended his remarks stating that his intent had been misunderstood. In a post on social media platform X, he wrote, “The Women’s Commission, while overreaching its jurisdiction, has completely misread my posts to the point of inverting their meaning.”

He added that his comments were made “in the spirit of exercising fundamental rights to freedom of thought and speech,” and that he “applauded the Indian armed forces for their resolute action while criticising those who preach hatred.”

In a statement issued shortly after the arrest, Ashoka University said, “We have been made aware that Prof. Ali Khan Mahmudabad has been taken into police custody earlier today. We are in the process of ascertaining details of the case. The University will continue to cooperate with the police and local authorities in the investigation, fully.”

The arrest has triggered widespread discussions on the limits of academic freedom, freedom of speech, and the treatment of dissenting voices in contemporary India. While some have supported the legal action, others view it as a troubling sign for democratic discourse.

The matter is currently under investigation, and further legal proceedings are expected in the coming days.