By Scroll Staff
Ashoka University Associate Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad was on Sunday arrested for his comments about the press briefings on Operation Sindoor based on a complaint by a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s youth wing, his lawyer confirmed to Scroll.
Mahmudabad has been arrested under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita pertaining to acts prejudicial to maintaining communal harmony, making assertions likely to cause disharmony, inciting secession, armed rebellion or subversive activities and insulting religious beliefs.
The case was filed on Saturday at the Rai police station in Haryana’s Sonepat district based on a complaint by Yogesh Jatheri, general secretary of the BJP’s state Yuva Morcha. He is also the sarpanch of the Jatheri village.
Later on Sunday, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) Narender Kadian said that a separate FIR had also been filed based on a complaint by Haryana State Women’s Commission chairperson Renu Bhatia, IANS reported.
In the second FIR, Mahmudabad was booked under sections of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita pertaining to public mischief, deliberate actions aimed at insulting the modesty of a woman, and endangering India’s sovereignty, unity and integrity, the news agency quoted Kadian as saying.
Ashoka University said on Sunday that it was aware that Mahmudabad was taken into police custody earlier in the day.
“We are in the process of ascertaining details of the case,” it said. “The university will continue to cooperate with the Police and local authorities in the investigation, fully.’’
The Faculty Association of Ashoka University condemned the arrest of Mahmudabad “on groundless and untenable charges”.
Describing the arrest as “calculated harassment”, the association said that it will continue to provide Mahmudabad support.
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