SONIPAT
Ashoka University Associate Professor of Political Science, Dr. Ali Khan Mahmudabad, was arrested on Sunday, May 18, 2025, by Haryana Police for his social media comments related to ‘Operation Sindoor’. The arrest follows a First Information Report (FIR) filed at Rai Police Station in Sonipat, initiated on the complaint of a local sarpanch.
According to his legal counsel Kapil Balyan, Dr. Mahmudabad has been charged under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for allegedly endangering national sovereignty and promoting enmity between groups. Balyan claimed the charges are “frivolous” and politically motivated, noting that several political leaders and former military officers have made similar remarks online without facing legal consequences.
The Haryana State Commission for Women had earlier issued a notice to the professor over his remarks on the controversial Operation Sindoor, a recent military initiative that has sparked strong public reactions. Dr. Mahmudabad, a well-known academic and commentator, has frequently engaged in public discourse on political and national security issues.
His arrest has drawn criticism from academic circles and free speech advocates, with concerns being raised about the targeting of intellectuals for expressing dissenting views. As the case unfolds, questions remain about the boundaries of free expression in the digital age, particularly for educators and scholars. Further legal proceedings are awaited, and Dr. Mahmudabad’s legal team is expected to seek bail in the coming days.