Ashoka University associate professor Mahmudabad sent to judicial custody

Sonipat (Haryana) | A court here on Tuesday sent Ali Khan Mahmudabad, the head of Ashoka University's political science department who was arrested for his social media posts related to Operation Sindoor, to judicial custody till May 27, his lawyer said.

One of Mahmudabad's lawyers, Kapil Balyan, said that the associate professor was produced before a court here this afternoon after the expiry of his two-day police remand.

"The police sought an extension of his remand by seven days. During the arguments, we opposed the extension of the police remand... The court has sent him to judicial custody till May 27," Balyan said.

Haryana Police had arrested Mahmudabad on Sunday after two FIRs were registered against him, alleging his social media posts on Operation Sindoor endangered the sovereignty and integrity of the country.

The FIRs were lodged at the Rai police station in Sonipat district -- one based on a complaint by the chairperson of Haryana State Commission for Women, Renu Bhatia, and the other on a complaint by a village sarpanch.

Several political parties and academicians have condemned the arrest.

A plea of Mahmudabad against his arrest is likely to come up before the Supreme Court on Wednesday.

On Monday, the apex court had agreed to examine the plea. A bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih noted the submissions of senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the associate professor, and said the plea would come up on Tuesday or Wednesday.

"He has been arrested for a patriotic statement. Please list it during the day," Sibal had insisted.

The associate professor's arrest came days after the state women's commission sent a notice to him questioning his remarks, though Mahmudabad had maintained that they were "misunderstood" and asserted that he had exercised his fundamental right to freedom of speech.