Indian authorities have arrested a prominent academic, Ali Khan Mahmudabad, over a social media post critical of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its treatment of Muslims, as well as his skepticism regarding official narratives surrounding India’s recent military operations against Pakistan.
The arrest comes in the wake of heightened tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbors, following a deadly incident in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir’s (IIOJK) Pahalgam, which India blamed on Pakistan. Despite a subsequent agreement on a ceasefire, political and media rhetoric has remained intense.
According to local media reports, Mahmudabad, 42, an associate professor and head of the political science department at Ashoka University in Haryana, was detained in New Delhi on Sunday. He is facing charges under sections of the Indian Penal Code related to promoting communal disharmony, inciting rebellion or subversive acts, and insulting religious sentiments.
The case was filed following a complaint by Yogesh Jatheri, the general secretary of the BJP’s youth wing in Haryana.
Mahmudabad’s controversial post, published on May 8 on X (formerly Twitter), highlighted the irony of right-wing commentators praising Colonel Sofia Qureshi, one of the women officers who briefed the media on India’s military actions. He questioned the disconnect between such symbolic representation and the everyday reality faced by India’s Muslim population under BJP rule.
“Perhaps they could also equally loudly demand that the victims of mob lynching, arbitrary bulldozing, and others who are victims of the BJP’s hate mongering be protected as Indian citizens,” Mahmudabad wrote. He added that while the presence of women soldiers at official briefings was notable, optics alone could not substitute for justice and equality on the ground.
“The grassroots reality that common Muslims face is different from what the government tried to show,” he stated, “but at the same time, the press conference shows that an India, united in its diversity, is not completely dead as an idea.”
The Haryana State Commission for Women also summoned the professor, accusing him of making disparaging comments against female officers and promoting communal discord.
Mahmudabad has denied all allegations, defending his post as a call for inclusivity and protection for both civilians and soldiers. He rejected claims of misogyny as “baseless” and said his words were misconstrued to serve a political agenda.
This incident comes amid broader concerns about civil liberties and minority rights in India. Amnesty International, in a 2024 statement, condemned what it called the “unjust targeted demolition” of Muslim-owned properties, branding it a discriminatory and unlawful campaign of “bulldozer justice” led by political authorities.
“These demolitions are destroying families,” said Agnes Callamard, Amnesty’s secretary-general. “The weaponization of state machinery to harass minorities must stop.”
In a related development, Indian media also reported the arrest of travel vlogger Jyoti Malhotra and five others from Punjab and Haryana over alleged espionage activities for Pakistan, further stoking public anxiety.
Meanwhile, far-right Hindu groups in India continue to engage in vigilantism and attacks on Muslims, particularly in relation to cow protection and interfaith relationships. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi has publicly spoken out against such violence, critics say his administration has done little to rein in extremist groups or address the root causes of sectarian tensions.
