Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a senior political science professor at Ashoka University, has been arrested over his controversial social media remarks regarding India’s Operation Sindoor and the women officers who led its press briefings, according to official sources. His lawyer confirmed the arrest to Scroll.
The arrest follows action initiated by the Haryana State Commission for Women, which took suo motu cognisance of Mahmudabad’s comments. The commission accused him of undermining women officers in the Indian Armed Forces and attempting to foment communal discord.
Mahmudabad is an associate professor and head of the political science department at Ashoka University, located in Sonipat, Haryana.
In his response to the commission’s summons, Mahmudabad strongly denied any misogynistic intent, stating that his posts were misinterpreted and that the commission had no jurisdiction over the matter. He added that his comments were being selectively highlighted to suppress critical voices.
“The screenshots attached to the notice make it clear that my remarks have been completely misunderstood. There is nothing misogynistic or anti-women in my statements,” he said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
He further stated that he had praised Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, the two women officers who represented India in the media briefings on Operation Sindoor, alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
“I even applauded members of the right wing who supported Colonel Qureshi and encouraged them to extend the same solidarity to everyday Indian Muslims who face demonisation. My intent was to highlight inclusivity, not provoke division,” he said.
Background: Operation Sindoor
Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian Armed Forces in the early hours of May 7, targeting terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir. It came as a retaliatory strike following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which killed 22 people, mostly tourists.
The operation was significant not only for its strategic precision but also for the involvement of women military officers in the official communication — a move widely praised across the political spectrum.
The professor’s arrest has sparked debate over the limits of free speech, academic independence, and the role of public institutions in policing social commentary. The investigation into his remarks is ongoing.
