NHRC takes suo moto cognisance of Ashoka University professor’s arrest over remarks on Operation Sindoor

New Delhi: The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday took suo moto cognisance of the arrest of Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a professor of political science at Haryana-based Ashoka University, who was put behind bars by the state police over his remarks on Operation Sindoor.

The apex human rights body issued a notice to the Director General of Police (DGP) of Haryana and called for a detailed report on the matter within one week. Taking note of the news report, the NHRC said that a gist of the allegations on the basis of which Mahmudabad has been arrested, prima facie, violated his human rights and liberty.

Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Ali Khan, ordering the Haryana DGP to constitute, within 24 hours, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising three senior IPS officials, including a woman officer, to probe the case.

Refusing to stay the investigation, a bench headed by Justice Surya Kant remarked that it granted interim bail to Ali Khan to facilitate further investigation. As per the order of the apex court, Mahmudabad would be released on interim bail upon surrendering his passport and furnishing bail bonds to the satisfaction of the court below.

The top court also restrained the petitioner from posting any further online posts related to the present case or the recent India-Pakistan conflict.

Mahmudabad, 42, was arrested on a complaint filed by Yogesh Jatheri, the General Secretary of the BJP Yuva Morcha in Haryana.

A Sonipat court on Tuesday sent him to 14 days of judicial custody. An FIR was lodged against Mahmudabad under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) pertaining to inciting armed rebellion or subversive activities and insulting religious beliefs. Also, sedition-like charges have been filed against him.

In a post on social media, Mahmudabad wrote: “I am very happy to see so many right-wing commentators applauding Colonel Sophi(y)a 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.”

Haryana State Commission for Women Chairperson Renu Bhatia took suo motu cognisance of Mahmudabad’s remarks, which were alleged to be disparaging towards women in the Indian armed forces and promoting communal disharmony. The women’s rights body had summoned the professor, but he failed to appear.

Later, he said the Commission had “misread” his comment. “[I] am surprised that the Women’s Commission, while overreaching its jurisdiction, has misread and misunderstood my posts to such an extent that they have inverted their meaning,” Mahmudabad had said on X.

IANS