A court in Sonepat on Tuesday remanded Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad to judicial custody in connection with a case filed by Haryana Police concerning a Facebook post he made on 'Operation Sindoor'.

Mahmudabad was arrested on Sunday from Delhi and placed in two-day police custody. On Tuesday, he was produced before Judicial Magistrate Azad Singh. During the hearing, the police sought an extension of custody for seven more days. However, the request was denied, and the court sent Mahmudabad to judicial custody instead. The development was confirmed to Bar and Bench by his lawyer, Kapil Dev Balyan.

A petition challenging his arrest is expected to come up for hearing before the Supreme Court later this week. His arrest has sparked criticism from several quarters, with many alleging that it represents a threat to free speech.

‘Operation Sindoor’ refers to India’s military action across the border in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack. In a Facebook post, Mahmudabad had written that India had sent a message to Pakistan: "if you don’t deal with your terrorism problem then we will!" He also expressed concern over the human cost of war and criticised those he described as “mindlessly advocating” conflict, saying many had never witnessed or lived through the horrors of war.

He further commented on right-wing praise for Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who led a press briefing on the operation, urging the same commentators to also raise their voices for victims of mob violence and unjust demolitions. “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,” he wrote. He also criticised rising communalism in political discourse.

Following the post, Mahmudabad was summoned by the Haryana State Commission for Women. The Commission’s Chairperson, Renu Bhatia, alleged that his remarks disparaged women in uniform, particularly Col. Qureshi and Wing Commander Singh, and undermined their professional roles.

In response, Mahmudabad issued a public statement on X, denying any misogynistic intent. He said his comments were rooted in his academic understanding of conflict and a strong moral opposition to war. He emphasised that he had acknowledged the Indian military’s restraint and had sharply criticised Pakistan’s use of terrorism as a state strategy.

“I have consistently condemned the actions of the Pakistani military and praised the Indian armed forces for their measured response,” he wrote. “My concern lies with the rising warmongering rhetoric and the consequences of escalating conflict.”

Despite his clarification, an FIR was registered against him based on the Women’s Commission’s complaint, leading to his arrest. A second FIR was also filed by Yogesh Jatheri, general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) and sarpanch of Jatheri village. Mahmudabad remains in judicial custody in connection with both cases.