Ashoka varsity Prof’s arrest: DGP asked to submit report in a week
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought a detailed report from the Haryana DGP regarding the arrest of Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, even as the Supreme Court granted him interim bail.
The commission said it had taken a suo motu cognisance of the arrest over his social media posts concerning Operation Sindoor.
Seeking a detailed report within a week, it stated that, prima facie, as per media reports, the professor’s human rights and liberty appear to have been violated.
Mahmudabad, Associate Professor and head of the political science department of the university, was arrested by the Haryana Police under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code for an Instagram post, in which he critiqued what he described as selective praise by right-wing commentators.
“I am very happy to see so many right-wing commentators applauding Colonel Sophia Qureishi but perhaps they could also equally loudly demand that the victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing and others who are victims of the BJP’s hate mongering be protected as Indian citizens. The optics of two women soldiers presenting their findings is important but optics must translate to reality on the ground otherwise it’s just hypocrisy,” he had posted.
Although his post included praise for the Indian armed forces, the Haryana State Commission for Women found it objectionable and summoned him to explain his remarks.
However, after he skipped the summons, the women panel chairperson lodged a formal complaint, following which he was arrested.
The professor then approached the Supreme Court, which granted him interim bail, but refused to stay the investigation against him.
Haryana Tribune