Ashoka University Professor Moves Supreme Court After Arrest Over ‘Operation Sindoor’ Post

Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a professor at Ashoka University, has approached the Supreme Court seeking relief after being arrested by Haryana Police over a Facebook post related to 'Operation Sindoor'. The arrest has sparked debate over freedom of expression and the interpretation of his social media post.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned Mahmudabad’s petition before Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, requesting an urgent hearing. “My Lords, a professor at Ashoka University has been proceeded against for an entirely patriotic statement on Operation Sindoor. My Lords may list it immediately,” Sibal urged. Responding to the request, CJI Gavai agreed to schedule the matter either tomorrow or the following day.

Mahmudabad was remanded to two days of police custody by a Magistrate just a day earlier. The police have not yet publicly clarified the specific charges or sections invoked against him, but sources indicate the arrest stems from alleged concerns about the interpretation of his post in the current sensitive national security context.

‘Operation Sindoor’ refers to India’s recent cross-border retaliation against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir following the deadly terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu & Kashmir, in which 26 civilians were killed. The operation has been widely supported across political and social spectrums.

Supporters of Mahmudabad argue that his Facebook post was misinterpreted and assert that it was patriotic in nature, not critical of the operation. His arrest has triggered concerns among academic and civil society circles about the shrinking space for free speech, especially in academic institutions.

The Supreme Court’s upcoming decision could set a key precedent for balancing national security concerns with constitutional protections for free expression. The matter is expected to be heard imminently.