NHRC issues notice to Haryana DGP over Ali Khan Mahmudabad’s arrest

The National Human Rights Commission of India has issued a notice to the Haryana Director General of Police, seeking a detailed report within a week on the arrest of Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad. The commission's action followed a Times of India report dated May 20, which outlined the allegations leading to his arrest and indicated, prima facie, a violation of the professor’s human rights and liberty.

This development came just hours after the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Mahmudabad in a petition challenging his arrest over a Facebook post regarding Operation Sindoor. However, the Supreme Court bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, declined to stay two FIRs registered by the Haryana Police against Mahmudabad. The court ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case. The SIT is to include three IPS officers who are not from Haryana or Delhi, with at least one woman officer among them.

The bench observed that Mahmudabad had not made out a case for staying the investigation. Along with imposing terms and conditions, the court prohibited him from making any further online posts or speeches related to the issue.

Newslaundry had previously reported on the case and the specific post that led to the arrest.