Lucknow, May 20 -- Civil society groups in Lucknow have rallied strongly around Dr Ali Khan Mahmudabad, an associate professor at Ashoka University and a descendant of the royal family of Mahmudabad in Uttar Pradesh, who was arrested on May 18 after two cases were registered against him in Sonipat, Haryana, over social media posts related to Operation Sindoor briefings.

The Supreme Court has agreed to an urgent hearing this week for the associate professor's petition challenging his arrest. Chief Justice of India BR Gavai has directed the listing of the matter either on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Ali Khan Mahmudabad is an alumnus of the La Martiniere College, Lucknow. He holds a doctorate from the University of Cambridge and is known for his...