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A district court on Tuesday sent Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmoodabad to judicial custody over his social media post regarding Operation Sindoor. The matter will be heard again on May 27.
Mahmoodabad was taken into custody on Sunday following the filing of two FIRs against him. The court had earlier granted a two-day police remand based on a complaint lodged by the Haryana State Commission for Women.
In his controversial post, Mahmoodabad stated:
“Strategically, India has entered a fresh phase where the line between military action and terrorist (non-state actors) in Pakistan is being erased. Essentially, any future terrorist activity would now prompt a conventional military response, pushing the Pakistani military to stop using proxies and non-state actors as a shield.”
He further added, “The Pak military has long manipulated militarised non-state actors to create regional chaos, all while presenting itself as a victim on the global stage. Many of these groups—some targeted in the recent strikes—have also incited sectarian violence within Pakistan. Operation Sindoor disrupts the old playbook of Indo-Pak relations, sending a clear message: any act of terror will now trigger a military retaliation, eliminating the thin veil between the two. Despite this shift, the Indian armed forces have taken deliberate steps to avoid hitting civilian or official military targets.”
Following public backlash, Mahmoodabad clarified that his words were being misread. He explained that his post was aimed at challenging war-driven narratives and drawing attention to the suffering of civilians during conflicts. He emphasized the need to protect all Indian citizens, including minorities, while also voicing his support for the Indian military’s restraint and condemning Pakistan’s use of terrorism.
His arrest was triggered after the Haryana women’s commission issued a notice over his social media content—even though he maintained his statements were misunderstood and well within the bounds of his fundamental rights. His posts had also highlighted the treatment of lynching victims and the media portrayal of Col Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
The detention sparked an uproar. Students, colleagues, and political figures voiced strong criticism. Learners from his course, “Banish the Poets” at Ashoka University, released a statement denouncing the arrest, labeling it an attack on academic freedom and the very ideals Mahmoodabad champions: reason, compassion, justice, and freedom of thought.