Ashoka varsity associate prof moves SC against arrest
Arrested for “endangering India’s sovereignty, unity and integrity” by his alleged comments on Operation Sindoor, Ashoka University associate professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad on Monday moved the Supreme Court challenging his arrest.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih agreed to list Mahmudabad’s petition on Tuesday or Wednesday after senior advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned it for urgent hearing.
“He has been arrested for a patriotic statement. Please list it during the day,” Sibal insisted.
“List it tomorrow or day after,” the CJI ordered.
Along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, Col Sofiya Qureshi has been the face of India’s press briefings on Operation Sindoor. The two women officers flanked Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri in their interaction with the media.
The petitioner had allegedly described media briefings by Colonel Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh as “optics”.
“But optics must translate to reality on the ground, otherwise it’s just hypocrisy,” he had allegedly said.
Mahmudabad was arrested on May 18 after two FIRs were lodged under stringent charges, including endangering sovereignty and integrity, for his social media posts on Operation Sindoor.
He was produced before a local court in Sonepat on May 18 and was remanded in police custody for two days in a case registered on a complaint of the Haryana State Commission for Women filed a day before.
The commission had sent a notice to him questioning the remarks, though Mahmudabad maintained these were “misunderstood” and underscored his fundamental right to freedom of speech.
The Haryana Police said the two FIRs were lodged at the Rai police station in Sonepat — one based on a complaint from the chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women, Renu Bhatia, and the other on a complaint of a village sarpanch.
