Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad has been remanded to 14-day judicial custody by a Sonepat district court in Haryana on Tuesday, The Hindustan Times reported.
Mahmudabad was arrested on Sunday following his May 8 Facebook post regarding Operation Sindoor, after which a BJP Yuva Morcha leader filed a complaint against the assistant professor with the police. The Haryana State Commission for Women had also sent him a notice, alleging that his remarks were a “disparagement of women in uniform”.
While Haryana police sought a seven-day remand, the court opted for judicial custody. The next hearing is scheduled for May 27.
The Supreme Court on Monday agreed to hear Mahmudabad’s plea challenging his arrest, with senior advocate Kapil Sibal asserting that he is being targeted for expressing “patriotic statements.”
The arrest has sparked significant controversy. Students and faculty at Ashoka University have rallied in support of Mahmudabad, organising rotating vigils at the Rai police station where he is held.
On Sunday, the Ashoka University Faculty Association condemned Mahmudabad’s arrest, vowed support for their colleague, whom they called an invaluable member of the university community, a deeply responsible citizen, and a friend to his students.
In an official statement on Sunday, Ashoka University said it was “in the process of ascertaining details of the case”.
“The University will continue to cooperate with the police and local authorities in the investigation, fully,” it said.
Mahmudabad himself issued a statement on May 14 where he said screenshots of his original post “make it clear that my remarks have been completely misunderstood”, and that the Haryana State Commission for Women had “no jurisdiction whatsoever in the matter”.
“…I have exercised my fundamental right to freedom of thought and speech in order to promote peace and harmony and to applaud the Indian armed forces for its resolute action, while criticising those who preach hatred and seek to destabilise India,” he pointed out.
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