Arrest of Academic Ali Khan Mahmudabad Sparks Controversy Over Free Speech

India

-Krishna Kripa

Updated: Monday, May 19, 2025, 0:42 [IST]

The
Congress
party
criticised
the
Modi
government
for
its
perceived
double
standards,
highlighting
the
arrest
of
an
academic
for
a
social
media
post
while
BJP
ministers
faced
no
repercussions
for
controversial
remarks.
The
arrest
of
Ali
Khan
Mahmudabad,
head
of
political
science
at
Ashoka
University,
by
Haryana
Police
has
sparked
this
debate.
Mahmudabad
was
detained
over
his
comments
on
Operation
Sindoor,
which
allegedly
endangered
national
sovereignty.

Mahmudabad’s
arrest
followed
two
FIRs
filed
against
him,
citing
serious
charges.
His
lawyer,
Kapil
Balyan,
stated
that
Mahmudabad
was
presented
in
court
and
remanded
in
police
custody
for
two
days.
The
case
originated
from
a
complaint
by
the
Haryana
State
Commission
for
Women.
Congress
spokesperson
Pawan
Khera
expressed
outrage
over
the
arrest,
emphasising
that
Mahmudabad’s
only
crime
was
expressing
his
views.

Freedom
of
Speech
and
Double
Standards

Khera
argued
that
Mahmudabad’s
arrest
exemplifies
the
Modi
government’s
suppression
of
free
speech
and
dissent.
He
noted
that
while
Mahmudabad
faced
legal
action
for
advocating
against
violence,
BJP
ministers
like
Vijay
Shah
and
Jagdish
Devda
were
not
held
accountable
for
their
remarks
about
the
armed
forces.
Khera
highlighted
this
as
evidence
of
the
government’s
hypocrisy.

The
Congress
party
pointed
out
that
Devda
allegedly
claimed
Indian
soldiers
were
subservient
to
Modi,
while
Shah
had
to
apologise
for
linking
terrorists’
religion
to
Col
Sofiya
Qureshi’s
faith.
Khera
criticised
these
statements
as
part
of
a
broader
trend
to
stifle
intellectuals
challenging
the
BJP’s
narrative.
He
asserted
that
such
actions
threaten
democracy
itself.

Historical
Context
and
Academic
Background

Mahmudabad
is
the
grandson
of
Padma
Bhushan
recipient
Jagat
S
Mehta,
who
served
as
India’s
Foreign
Secretary
from
1976-79.
Despite
his
academic
credentials,
Mahmudabad’s
social
media
post
led
to
his
arrest
after
a
notice
from
Haryana’s
women’s
rights
panel
questioned
his
remarks.
He
maintained
that
his
comments
were
misunderstood
and
defended
his
right
to
free
speech.

In
one
post,
Mahmudabad
urged
right-wing
supporters
of
Col
Sofiya
Qureshi
to
also
protect
victims
of
mob
violence
and
property
destruction.
He
described
media
briefings
by
Col
Qureshi
and
Wing
Commander
Vyomika
Singh
as
mere
optics
unless
they
resulted
in
tangible
change.
These
briefings
followed
Operation
Sindoor,
where
Indian
forces
targeted
terror
sites
in
Pakistan
and
Pakistan-occupied
Kashmir
on
May
7.

The
Congress
party
continues
to
advocate
for
an
India
that
values
open
debate
and
democracy
over
authoritarian
dictates.
They
argue
that
branding
writers
and
critics
as
enemies
undermines
democratic
principles.
Khera
reiterated
their
commitment
to
defending
free
speech
and
opposing
the
criminalisation
of
dissent.

With
inputs
from
PTI