Sonipat, May 18: Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a Political science professor at Ashoka University, has been arrested by the Delhi Police in connection with controversial remarks he allegedly made on social media regarding Operation Sindoor — a major anti-terror operation recently launched by India.
The arrest has sparked debate over freedom of expression, national security, and institutional accountability.
Mahmudabad was detained from South Delhi and subsequently handed over to the Sonipat Police for further investigation. According to officials, two FIRs have been registered against him, and he is currently undergoing interrogation.
The arrest came in response to a formal complaint filed by Renu Bhatia, Chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women. Bhatia alleged that Mahmudabad’s social media posts were inflammatory and insensitive, especially in the wake of heightened national sentiments following the terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam. The professor reportedly ignored official summons, prompting legal action.
Ashoka University has issued a statement affirming its cooperation with law enforcement authorities. "The University is aware of the matter and is extending full support to the authorities during the investigation process," the statement read.
Operation Sindoor was launched by the Indian armed forces on May 7, following a brutal terrorist ambush in Pahalgam that left multiple security personnel dead. The operation targeted terror camps and infrastructure across the border in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), resulting in the elimination of nearly 100 terrorist operatives. Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded the operation, describing it as a landmark achievement in India’s counter-terrorism strategy and a demonstration of the nation’s resolve against cross-border terrorism.
The developments surrounding Professor Mahmudabad’s arrest have triggered reactions across academic and political circles, with some expressing concern about academic freedom and the right to dissent, while others support the action, citing national security and accountability. Further legal proceedings are expected as the investigation continues.
Who is Ali Khan Mahmudabad?
Born on December 2, 1982, Ali Khan Mahmudabad comes from a prominent political and royal lineage. He is the son of the late Mohammad Amir Mohammad Khan, also known as Raja Saheb of Mahmudabad, who fought a decades-long legal battle over properties seized under the Enemy Properties Act. His grandfather, Mohammad Amir Ahmad Khan, was the last ruling Raja of Mahmudabad and an influential figure in the Muslim League before India’s partition.
He received his early education at La Martiniere in Lucknow and later studied in the UK at King’s College School and Winchester College. He earned his MPhil and PhD in Historical Studies from the University of Cambridge and studied Arabic at the University of Damascus in Syria. He has written extensively on the Middle East, drawing from travels across Syria, Iran, and Iraq, with his work appearing in publications including National Geographic.
In addition to his academic contributions, Mahmudabad is a poet, writer, and commentator on contemporary political issues. He briefly entered politics, joining the Samajwadi Party in 2017. He is married to the daughter of Haseeb Drabu, a former minister in Jammu and Kashmir.
