By The Sampadak Express
Ali Khan Mahmudabad, Associate Professor and Head of the Political Science Department at Ashoka University, has been arrested by Haryana Police following controversial comments made about media briefings on Operation Sindoor. The arrest stems from a complaint filed by Yogesh Jatheri, General Secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s Yuva Morcha in Haryana.
Delhi University professor and noted academic Apoorvanand has raised concerns about the legality of the arrest, stating, “Haryana police has illegally arrested Dr Ali Khan. Taken to Haryana from Delhi without transit remand. FIR at 8 PM. Police reached his home the next morning at 7 AM!” He urged the Delhi High Court and the Supreme Court to intervene, citing the Supreme Court’s Pravir Purkayastha judgment as relevant precedent.
Controversial Remarks on Operation Sindoor
Mahmudabad’s comments, made on social media, described the joint press briefing by Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, and Colonel Sofia Qureshi as “optics.” He added, “But optics must translate to reality on the ground otherwise it’s just hypocrisy,”
These remarks prompted the Haryana State Commission for Women to issue a notice, stating that it had taken suo motu cognisance of his public statements made on or around May 7.
Responding to the developments, Mahmudabad released a statement via X (formerly Twitter), criticizing the Commission for “misreading” and “inverting” the meaning of his posts. “I am surprised that the Women’s Commission, while overreaching its jurisdiction, has misunderstood my posts to such an extent,” he said.
Defending His Views
In his statement, Mahmudabad defended his remarks, asserting his constitutional right to freedom of speech and expression. He emphasized that his intention was to advocate for peace and unity, commend the Indian armed forces for their efforts, and criticize those who incite hatred. He added, “My academic work, public writings, and policy engagements reflect a lifelong commitment to India’s unity and constitutional values.”
Ashoka University Responds
Ashoka University issued an official statement distancing itself from Mahmudabad’s personal remarks. “Comments made by a faculty member on his personal social media pages do not represent the opinion of the university. These statements have been made by him independently in his individual capacity,” the university stated.
Reaffirming its support for national security, the university added, “Ashoka University and all members of the Ashoka community are proud of India’s armed forces and support them unequivocally in their actions towards maintaining national security. We stand in solidarity with the nation and our forces.”
Who is Ali Khan Mahmudabad?
Ali Khan Mahmudabad is a historian, political scientist, and writer. He holds a PhD and MPhil from the University of Cambridge and an undergraduate degree in history and political science from Amherst College. He has also studied Arabic at the University of Damascus.
Mahmudabad is widely known for his academic work, public commentary, and policy contributions, often engaging with senior officials and policymakers across sectors.
