The Crossbill Team
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has stated that the Haryana police have failed to respond to a notice issued regarding the arrest of Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad in connection with his comments on Operation Sindoor.
Last month, the NHRC took suo motu cognisance of Mahmudabad’s arrest, observing that, prima facie, his human rights and civil liberties appeared to have been violated.
In a response to a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by The Hindu, the commission revealed that the Haryana police had not replied to its notice within the stipulated one-week deadline, which ended on May 27. The NHRC said it had issued a reminder to the police on June 10 and confirmed that the matter remains under active consideration.
In a press statement dated May 21, the NHRC had said it had examined a news report from May 20, 2025, detailing the arrest and remand of Mahmudabad, a professor at the deemed Ashoka University in Haryana.
“The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has come across a news report dated 20th May, 2025 regarding the arrest and remand to custody of a Professor of Ashoka University (a deemed to be University) in Haryana,” the statement said.
The commission stated that the report outlined allegations suggesting a possible violation of the professor's rights, prompting it to initiate suo motu proceedings.
“The Commission has noted that the report, which contains a gist of the allegations on the basis of which he has been arrested, discloses, prima facie, that the human rights and liberty of the said Professor have been violated. Therefore, it has deemed it to be a fit case for taking suo motu cognizance of the reported incident,” the statement had added.
Professor Mahmudabad was arrested by the Haryana police on May 18 on charges related to sedition and hurting religious sentiments, based on a complaint filed over his social media comments criticising India’s Operation Sindoor against Pakistan.
Following his arrest, the Supreme Court intervened on May 21, granting him interim bail under strict conditions.
The court also constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to examine two of his social media posts that were deemed “anti-war.” The case continues to raise serious questions around freedom of expression and due process in politically sensitive arrests.
Last month, the NHRC took suo motu cognisance of Mahmudabad’s arrest, observing that, prima facie, his human rights and civil liberties appeared to have been violated.
In a response to a Right to Information (RTI) query filed by The Hindu, the commission revealed that the Haryana police had not replied to its notice within the stipulated one-week deadline, which ended on May 27. The NHRC said it had issued a reminder to the police on June 10 and confirmed that the matter remains under active consideration.
In a press statement dated May 21, the NHRC had said it had examined a news report from May 20, 2025, detailing the arrest and remand of Mahmudabad, a professor at the deemed Ashoka University in Haryana.
“The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has come across a news report dated 20th May, 2025 regarding the arrest and remand to custody of a Professor of Ashoka University (a deemed to be University) in Haryana,” the statement said.
The commission stated that the report outlined allegations suggesting a possible violation of the professor's rights, prompting it to initiate suo motu proceedings.
“The Commission has noted that the report, which contains a gist of the allegations on the basis of which he has been arrested, discloses, prima facie, that the human rights and liberty of the said Professor have been violated. Therefore, it has deemed it to be a fit case for taking suo motu cognizance of the reported incident,” the statement had added.
Professor Mahmudabad was arrested by the Haryana police on May 18 on charges related to sedition and hurting religious sentiments, based on a complaint filed over his social media comments criticising India’s Operation Sindoor against Pakistan.
Following his arrest, the Supreme Court intervened on May 21, granting him interim bail under strict conditions.
The court also constituted a special investigation team (SIT) to examine two of his social media posts that were deemed “anti-war.” The case continues to raise serious questions around freedom of expression and due process in politically sensitive arrests.
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