‘Pakistan Zindabad’ Post: The Story of a Pune Student’s Arrest and Rustication

Suppose you are a teenager who loves to post on social media; one of your posts was on a sensitive topic that got you a lot of hate and due to that you had to take it down. However, after you have deleted it, you get an arrest warrant that makes you  go to jail… how would you feel? That’s exactly what happened to a teen in India. A 19-year-old IT student from Pune was arrested, thrown out of college and became part of a legal battle that now has everyone across India talking.

What Really Happened?

On May 7, 2025, the student named Khadeeja Shaikh, posted another story to her Instagram profile, blaming the Indian government for poor planning of the military action, Operation Sindoor, against terror camps in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. After receiving lots of threatening comments on social media, she removed the post after just two hours. Yet the damage had already taken place. On May 9, Sinhgad Academy of Engineering rusticated her for supposedly destroying its reputation and endangering campus people. After an FIR was filed in her case, police in Pune arrested her that same day and sent her to Yerwada Prison.

Why Were She Restrained from Classes and Arrested?

The college felt her post revealed negative views about the nation and said rusticating her was necessary to maintain the university's values. The student stated in her petition to the Bombay High Court that her civil rights had been broken. She stated she was never allowed to speak for herself—no pre-expulsion notice, no hearing and nothing more. She said that the post was not meant to cause any hurt and that she took it down and apologized right after she realized the problem. 

The Legal Dispute

After a complaint from a right-wing group in the city and regular police reviews of Facebook, an FIR was registered at Kondhwa Police Station on May 9, 2025. Among the charges were additional sections of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

Section 152: Covers offenses toward the safety, unity and unity of India.

Section 196: Working to make groups of people hostile towards one another

Section 197: Certain kinds of speech that harm national unity

Section 299: Making those of any religion feel insulted

Section 352: Causing insult to stir up unrest

Section 353: Announcements intended to lead people astray

Shaikh was arrested on changing media reports and she was detained by police, later transferred to Yerwada Prison after her bail application was rejected, because she officially lives in Jammu & Kashmir. Maharashtra ATS and the NIA also got involved, but no relation with militant groups or anti-nationals was found in initial findings.

The student’s lawyer asked the Bombay High Court to declare the college’s actions as arbitrary and unlawful. According to the petition, Jafia’s rights to equality, freedom of speech and protection of life and personal liberty were not respected by Article 14, 19(1)(a) and 21 of the Indian Constitution. She is now battling to get back into college and to be given permission to write her final exams from May 24 onwards.

Social Media, Freedom of Speech and the Rules

This is not only happening here; it’s happening elsewhere too. A number of students, activists and professors have been arrested or penalized these days for writing about sensitive issues such as Operation Sindoor and Indo-Pak tensions on social media. People are debating how much freedom of speech should be allowed when it comes to national security.

There is freedom of speech in India, but there are exceptions to this freedom. If you post something “anti-national,” that incite violence or aim to disrupt public order, you could face serious legal action.

Taking care of due process is really important. Many legal and student groups claim that schools and authorities have to respect natural justice which means you need to be treated fairly before any action is taken about you.

What Should Students in India Know About it?

Here are some things to keep handy if you’re involved in social media activities related to politics and national issues:

• Consider what you are posting or sharing first. Sometimes, just posting something again can cause problems if people see it as against the nation.
• Understand what your rights are. Free speech is a right for everyone, but it also means you shouldn’t transmit wrong information or cause unrest.
• Both colleges and employers are keeping track of your activities. A lot of institutions have set clear rules for online behavior.
• You can get legal help. If you are charged with something related to social media, speak with a lawyer and learn the rules for your university or college.

The incident in Pune shows young Indians what is really at stake when we engage online. Because discussions around free speech and national security are getting stronger, it’s necessary to keep up with news, behave responsibly and ask for fair treatment from organizations. Use social media carefully and persuade yourself of this: whatever you post can touch both the conversations around you and the direction your future will take.