The Supreme Court has extended the interim bail of Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, arrested over allegedly inflammatory social media posts related to Operation Sindoor, but reiterated that he cannot post anything online related to the case.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta clarified that while Mahmudabad’s right to free speech remains intact, he must refrain from writing or speaking publicly on the two posts under investigation. The court declined to modify the May 21 bail condition that restricts him from making any online post, article, or oral comment related to the ongoing probe.
The court also directed the Special Investigation Team probing the case to limit its investigation strictly to the two FIRs filed against Mahmudabad. This directive came after concerns were raised about potential overreach by the authorities, including attempts to access the professor’s digital devices. Justice Kant emphasized the need to avoid expanding the scope of the investigation unnecessarily.
Mahmudabad was arrested on May 18 following two FIRs over his social media posts on Operation Sindoor. One complaint was filed by the chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women, and the other by a village sarpanch. The posts in question were perceived as critical of military actions and allegedly undermined national integrity.
Following his arrest, Mahmudabad was released from Sonipat jail on May 22 after furnishing bail bonds. The Supreme Court had earlier directed the formation of a three-member SIT to investigate the matter and instructed Mahmudabad to cooperate fully with the investigation.
The National Human Rights Commission has taken cognizance of the arrest, noting potential violations of Mahmudabad’s rights. The Supreme Court has asked the Haryana police to inform the court about their response to the NHRC’s notice regarding the registration of the FIRs.
Mahmudabad, an associate professor and head of the Political Science department at Ashoka University, has chosen not to speak to the media, complying with the court’s directive. His legal team, led by senior advocate Kapil Sibal, has expressed concerns over the authorities’ attempts to access his digital devices, prompting the court to emphasize maintaining the investigation’s current limits.
