Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad of Ashoka University was arrested by Haryana Police over two social media posts related to Operation Sindoor.
The FIRs were filed in Sonipat based on complaints from BJP’s Yuva Morcha members and the Haryana State Women Commission Chairperson.
One post analyzed India’s military action against Pakistan and highlighted the pluralism seen in Indian military briefings.
The other post condemned the public’s “bloodlust for war” and argued that restraint is a virtue supported by both Hindu and Islamic teachings.
His posts were neither anti-national nor inflammatory and reflected a patriotic and inclusive viewpoint.
Despite this, he was charged with endangering national sovereignty and promoting enmity, similar to past misuses of sedition laws.
The arrest reflects a growing trend of using harsh laws to suppress dissent, especially in BJP-ruled states.
It also highlights the decline in academic freedom, where critical thinking and open discussion are increasingly criminalised.
The Supreme Court has agreed to urgently hear the case and is expected to defend freedom of expression and act against the misuse of such laws.
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