Ali Khan Mahmudabad, an Ashoka University professor, was arrested on May 18 over a social media post about Operation Sindoor.
The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted interim bail to Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad over his controversial post on Operation Sindoor but refused to stay the investigation into the case. The Supreme Court has restrained Mahmudabad from posting any further online content related to the recent India-Pakistan conflict.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh refused to stay the two first information reports (FIRs) registered by Haryana Police against Khan in the matter but released him on interim bail. “We direct the petitioner be released on interim bail subject to furnishing of bail bonds to the satisfaction of the CJM Sonepat. There shall be only one set of bail bonds for both FIRs,” the Court ordered.
The bench also questioned Mahmudabad’s choice of words, stating that they appeared to be intended to humiliate, insult, or create discomfort for others, rather than contribute constructively to public discourse. While upholding the fundamental right to freedom of expression, the top court noted that Mahmudabad’s statements fell under what is legally termed as “dog whistling” in law.
The apex court also directed to Haryana DGP to constitute a three-member SIT headed by IG rank officer to probe the case against the professor, who heads the political science department at the private university.
The professor was arrested over controversial remarks on Operation Sindoor
The professor was arrested on Sunday (May 18) after two FIRs were registered against him at the Rai police station in Sonipat. One complaint was filed by Renu Bhatia, chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women, and another by Yogesh Jatheri, general secretary of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), the youth wing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Both complaints alleged that Mahmudabad’s post was inflammatory, anti-national in nature, and undermined the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
The post in question was made on X and included remarks on Operation Sindoor. Critics of the post claimed it was disrespectful to the armed forces and incited communal disharmony. Mahmudabad, however, has defended his post, stating that it was an appeal for peace and was being misinterpreted.
Indian armed forces hit terror infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in the early hours of May 7 under Operation Sindoor in retaliation to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
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