Professor Ali Khan Mahamudabad on Monday, May 19, approached the Supreme Court seeking relief from his arrest. Ali Khan, who teaches history and political science at Ashoka University, was arrested a day earlier for a social media post on Operation Sindoor.
Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal filed a petition before Chief Justice of India BR Gavai on behalf of the scholar seeking urgent listing of the case. The top court has agreed to list the matter on May 21, according to reports.
Ali Khan had been arrested by the Haryana police following a complaint by Yogesh Jatheri, general secretary of the BJP’s state Yuva Morcha and sarpanch of Jatheri village.
He was arrested under Sections 152 (acts that endanger India's sovereignty, unity and integrity), 353 (statements conducing to public mischief) and 79 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
In his Facebook post, Mahmudabad wrote, “I am very happy to see so many right-wing commentators applauding Colonel Sophia Qureishi, but perhaps they could also equally loudly demand that the victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing and others who are victims of the BJP’s hate mongering be protected as Indian citizens. The optics of two women soldiers presenting their findings is important, but optics must translate to reality on the ground, otherwise it’s just hypocrisy.”
Earlier, the Haryana State Commission for Women had summoned Ali Khan accusing him of “vilifying” the Indian Army and “outraging the modesty of women in uniform,” claiming his remarks disrespected women officers by questioning the sincerity of their representation in national institutions.
While the police action was strongly condemned by opposition leaders, students and academicians, Ashoka University distanced itself from the controversy, stating that the professor’s comments do not represent the opinion of the university.
Extending their solidarity, over 1,000 academics, students, and intellectuals from across India and abroad have signed a letter seeking that the Haryana State Women’s Commission retract its summons and issue a full and public apology to Prof Ali Khan Mahmudabad for how it has deliberately and maliciously slandered him. “We also call on Ashoka University to stand by its faculty member, especially during this time when he has done nothing except carry out his duties as a teacher, a citizen and a person who believes in harmony and peace,” the statement read.
