Meet Renu Bhatia and Yogesh Jatheri, complainants in Mahmudabad controversy

Renu Bhatia and Yogesh Jatheri

Renu Bhatia, chairperson of the Haryana State Women’s Commission, and Rajesh Jatheri, a senior BJP leader, have both been involved in the controversy around Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad.

Bhatia took the lead by summoning Mahmudabad over his social media post on Operation Sindoor last week and filing the police complaint that led to his arrest. Jatheri has, meanwhile, supported Bhatia’s actions, adding political pressure on the professor.

Here’s a quick look at who they are:

Renu Bhatia, 57, chairperson of the Haryana State Women’s Commission, has been in the spotlight recently for summoning Ashoka University associate professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad over his controversial post on Operation Sindoor, which led to his arrest following a police complaint she filed. Bhatia defended her actions, stating she was fulfilling her official responsibilities.

A seasoned BJP leader with nearly 40 years in the party, Bhatia admires the late Sushma Swaraj and proudly calls herself “Bhajpa ki Benazir,” a nickname stemming from her resemblance to former Pakistan PM Benazir Bhutto, a role she played in a 2008 short film.

Originally from Srinagar, Bhatia belongs to a Punjabi Kashmiri family that endured violence during Kashmir’s turbulent past. Despite this, she insists her actions against Mahmudabad were strictly professional.

Bhatia’s political journey began as a municipal councillor in Faridabad in 2000, later serving as deputy mayor. She contested again in 2010 but lost amid confusion caused by multiple candidates with the same name. In January 2022, she was appointed chairperson of the Haryana State Women’s Commission, a tenure extended beyond its original January 2025 end date.

Her commission has actively pursued cases related to women’s rights, including a major sexual harassment probe in Jind district involving over 100 girls. In 2023, the commission also filed an FIR against O P Jindal Global University professor Sameena Dalwai for allegedly “outraging the modesty” of women students.

Yogesh, a member of the BJP Yuva Morcha, is also the sarpanch of Jatheri village in Sonipat district.

According to reports, Yogesh hails from a distinguished Army family. His grandfather, Jogender Singh, served in the Indian Army, and his uncle, Major Satya Prakash Verma, was martyred in the 1965 Indo-Pak war after capturing the Sanjoi post. He was posthumously awarded the Vir Chakra.

Yogesh’s father served in the Delhi Police, while his elder brother and wife have both retired as Majors from the Indian Army. Yogesh studied in Motilal Nehru Sports School, Rai, and later pursued higher education in Delhi.

It was during his college days in Delhi that he joined the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). He entered mainstream politics in 2014 by joining the BJP. He previously served as the district president of BJYM and is currently its state general secretary.

According to Yogesh, as cited by the Indian Express, he filed the complaint against Mahmudabad as he was “trying to instigate people’s feelings” at a sensitive time. “I have a law background. I know the law very well. As a member of the BJP youth wing, I have been visiting colleges and universities for a long time. He [Mahmudabad] said the government was working against the Muslim community and that Colonel Sofiya Qureshi addressed the press briefings just as a show. He made these statements in my presence. Four to five others were also present when he said this,” Yogesh said.

In his FIR, the BJP leader accused Mahmudabad of “promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion” and “malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings”.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court, on Monday, agreed to hear a plea by Mahmudabad, who is also a Samajwadi Party spokesperson, challenging his arrest over a social media post on Operation Sindoor.

The post, made on May 8, commented on the use of women officers in media briefings, drawing backlash and leading to an FIR under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including promoting communal disharmony.

Bhatia-led Haryana State Commission for Women took suo motu notice and had filed a complaint.

Mahmudabad, however, has denied wrongdoing, calling the commission's interpretation flawed.