Ashoka University Associate Professor Arrested Over Remarks Against ‘Operation Sindoor’
Ali Khan Mahmudabad, an associate professor and head of the department of political science at the Sonipat-based Ashoka University in Haryana, was arrested on Sunday from his residence in the national capital, the Clarion reported. “Ali Khan Mahmudabad has been arrested from Delhi. He has been taken into custody in connection with some comments regarding Operation Sindoor,” said Rai Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Ajit Singh over the phone.
The arrest comes days after the Haryana State Commission for Women issued a notice to Professor Mahmudabad over his remarks concerning ‘Operation Sindoor’. In its notice dated May 12, the commission stated that it had taken suo moto cognizance of the professor’s “public statements/comments” allegedly made around May 7. Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad is the head of the Political Science department at Ashoka University.
Commission Chairperson Renu Bhatia said, “We salute the daughters of the country, Colonel Sophia Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyoumika Singh. But the kind of words used for them by a professor who teaches politics, I expected him to appear before the commission today and at least express regret.”
The commission’s notice also included Mahmudabad’s comments made on social media. In one comment, he reportedly said that “those on the right-wing who are praising Colonel Qureshi should also raise their voice against the mob lynching victims and the bulldozing of homes without judicial process.” In another comment, he described the media briefing by Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyoumika Singh as “optics” (visual display) and said that if these optics do not translate into ground reality, then it is merely hypocrisy. According to the commission, these statements insulted and demeaned “women in uniform” and the “role of professional officers.”
Under ‘Operation Sindoor’, on the morning of May 7, the Indian armed forces conducted strikes on terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. This operation was a response to the terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22. Wing Commander Vyoumika Singh, Colonel Sophia Qureshi, and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri jointly addressed the media on this occasion.
The university clarified in a statement that “the personal social media posts of a faculty member do not represent the views of Ashoka University. These statements were made in his individual capacity.” The statement further added, “Ashoka University and its entire community take pride in the Indian armed forces and fully support their efforts in safeguarding national security. We stand in solidarity with the nation and our forces.”
Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad later issued a statement on social media platform X, saying, “I am surprised that the Women’s Commission has read and understood my posts in such a wrong way that their original meaning has been reversed.” He also accused the commission of overstepping its jurisdiction.
It should be mentioned that Ali Khan comes from a renowned Shia family with a brilliant background of service to the Ahl al-Bayt (peace be upon them).
