Who Is Ali Khan Mahmudabad? Ashoka University Prof Arrested For Calling Op Sindoor Press Briefing 'Illusion' Of 'Secular India'

In a case that has sparked intense debate over academic freedom and expression, Ali Khan Mahmudabad, an associate professor at Ashoka University, was arrested by the Haryana Police on May 18.

The arrest stems from his Facebook post, which allegedly criticised Operation Sindoor press briefing, led by two women soldiers — Lt Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.

The complaint was filed by Yogesh Jatheri, a BJP Yuva Morcha leader and village sarpanch from Sonipat. According to reports, Mahmudabad has been booked under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 152, which replaced the sedition law under the old IPC. This section criminalises actions deemed to threaten the sovereignty and integrity of India.

Who Is Adil Khan Mahmudabad?

Ali Khan Mahmudabad, 42, belongs to the erstwhile royal family of Mahmudabad in Uttar Pradesh. His grandfather, Mohammad Amir Ahmad Khan, was the last ruling Raja of Mahmudabad and an influential political figure during India’s independence movement.

Born in Lucknow on December 2, 1982, Ali did his early schooling at La Martiniere College, before moving to England for further studies at King’s College School and Winchester College. He later studied Arabic in Damascus and went on to earn his MPhil and PhD in Historical Studies from the University of Cambridge. His scholarly work focuses on North Indian Muslim political thought between 1850 and 1950.

Mahmudabad currently heads the Department of Political Science at Ashoka University. His writings, spanning history, politics, and religion, have been published in several prestigious media publications. His 2020 book Poetry of Belonging examined Muslim political and cultural identity in colonial India.

Arrest Sparks Outcry Over Freedom of Speech

The arrest, which reportedly occurred without a transit remand from Delhi, drew condemnation from several academics and rights activists. Delhi University professor Apoorvanand called the arrest “illegal” on social media platform X, urging judicial intervention and citing the Supreme Court's Pravir Purkayastha judgment on arrest procedures.

Monday Column: Muslims would not be allowed a democratic tongue.

डॉ अली खान:मुललमानों की जनतांत्रिक ज़ुबान को भी तराशने की तैयारी https://t.co/EE8IFuim37 via @SatyaHindi

— Apoorvanand अपूर्वानंद (@Apoorvanand__) May 19, 2025

The controversy surrounds Mahmudabad’s Facebook post on May 8, in which he criticised what he described as the “optics” of women officers like Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh, briefing the media on Operation Sindoor. While acknowledging the symbolic importance of their visibility, he questioned whether this translated into structural change or merely served propaganda ends. He also expressed concern about the rising "bloodlust" for war in public discourse.

Have a look at his post here:

The Haryana State Women’s Commission took suo motu cognisance of the posts, accusing him of promoting “communal disharmony” and disparaging female military officers. In response, Mahmudabad said his statements were “misunderstood” and accused authorities of inventing controversy as a form of censorship.

Have a look at his open letter here:

My statement re the summons that I received from the Haryana State Women’s Commission.

The posts that were misunderstood and objected to can be accessed on my Facebook page. pic.twitter.com/U4rZrAXhFx

— Ali Khan Mahmudabad (@Mahmudabad) May 14, 2025

Ashoka University confirmed the arrest and said it was working to ascertain the full details while cooperating with the authorities. “We are 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,” the university said in a statement.

Mahmudabad is married to the daughter of Haseeb Drabu, a former finance minister of Jammu and Kashmir. He had a brief political stint as a national spokesperson for the Samajwadi Party between 2019 and 2022.

Two nights before his arrest, several prominent academics and civil society members signed a petition defending his right to free speech.