Ali Khan Mehmudabad Versus Vijay Shah: Government ‘double-speak’ exposed, yet again!

I am writing this piece as a personal note. Out of my long standing selfless friendship I had with Amir Muhammed Sulieman Khan aka Raja Sahab Mehmudabad. His son, Ali Khan Mehmudabad, an Associate Professor (Political Science) at Ashoka University, Sonipat, Haryana, has been arrested on May 18 by Sonipat police, Haryana. I first rang to his secretary in Lucknow for details.

Ali Khan Mehmudabad was picked up on allegations of ‘endangering country’s sovereignty and integrity and promoting enmity between groups’. He was in the midst of storm over his May 8, Facebook Post, after which he was issued a notice from Haryana Women’s Commission. Commission members visited his University too.  It’s Chairperson Renu Bhatia lodged FIR on it under sections of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) 353 (public mischief), 152 ( national unity concerns) and 79 which is to insult the modesty of women through act, word or gesture.  One more FIR was lodged against him by Yogesh Jathedi, Sarpanch and BJP Yuva Morcha general secretary under 196 (1) B (promoting enmity) , 197(1) C (statement against national integration), 152 and 299 ( culpable homicide). Yogesh Jathedi claims to have met Ali Khan a day earlier to his FIR.  In fact, what has come to light that Renu Bhatia was so enraged, to not have been able to see Ali Khan at the university, that she has got Sonipat Police Commissioner Nazneen Bhasin, sent packing! She has been transferred.

What is the message the government wants to give on his arrest? The lofty claims of freedom of expression is now just a misnomer. Isn’t it? Why there hasn’t been the arrest of Vijay Shah, BJP minister in MP, against whom FIR had to be lodged after MP High Court had taken a suo-moto case, on his utterly disgraceful and communally infested ‘hate-speech’ remarks against Indian Army Colonel Sofia Qureshi? Why so great promptness into the arrest of Ali Khan?  

The stark reality, which is growing by the day, is that are there two set of laws? One for Muslims and others who question the government and the second for BJP affiliates. The former are to fret under the sun while the latter are to have a gala time. Isn’t it time to yet again recollect that even FIR is yet to be lodged against the accused of Delhi riots of 2020, Parvesh Verma, Kapil Mishra and Anurag Thakur. Justice S Muralidhar of the Delhi High Court had then urged the Delhi police to consider registering it and on that very Muralidhar was transferred out of the Delhi High Court by the BJP-led Union government. Vijay Shah, has however been slammed by Supreme Court over his crass remarks which has shamed the whole nation. His arrest has been stayed until May 28.

Ali Khan Mehmudabad is a profoundly knowledgeable gentleman, who has studied in world renowned institutions and universities like Amherst College and Cambridge University.  A true embodiment of his father Amir Muhammed Sulieman Khan who himself was a Professor of Astrophysicis at Cambridge University.  Sulieman Sahab was a great friend for over two-decades. After Ali Khan’s arrest, I first tried to speak to secretary of Delhi Ex. CM Arvind Kejrival, as since his release, he does not use his old number. I could come to know that Kejrival Ji is now in Punjab. The next day early morning, at 9:50 am, I spoke to eminent lawyer Kapil Sibal Ji , to seek from him, he was in the know of things and informed me that the legal remedy was in pipeline.

Kapil Sibal Ji had moved a ‘lunch-motion’ in the Division Bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih, for the redressal of the injustice having been made to Ali Khan. The case is to be listed at on May 22. Ali Khan is also the spokesperson of Samajwadi Party and Kapil Sibal Ji is a Rajya Sabha MP nominated from SP. SP President Akhilesh Yadav Ji, had questioned, in his tweet on May 19, as to why government is having a free-lease to speak uncouth while those who tell the truth are imprisoned? Akhilesh Ji had asked Sibal Ji to take legal move in all its immediacy.

The legal outcome is to be awaited with a trust that judiciary will do justice. But, the attempt of government to muzzle any ‘other voice’ for not appropriating the government’s line, is however to remain unhindered? Let the law prevail. Let justice prevail.

Haider Abbas is a former UP State Information Commissioner, political analyst and an advocate.