Ashoka University prof Ali Khan Mahmudabad arrested over Op Sindoor post gets interim bail

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday granted interim bail to Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad in connection with an FIR filed by the Haryana Police over his social media posts related to Operation Sindoor.

Mahmudabad, who was arrested on May 18, has remained in custody since then. While granting him interim relief, the court declined to halt the ongoing investigation. It directed the Haryana Director General of Police to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) within 24 hours. This SIT must consist of senior IPS officers who are not from Haryana or Delhi, include at least one woman officer, be led by an officer of Inspector General rank, and include two officers of Superintendent rank.

The bench, comprising Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh, emphasised that the bail was granted to aid the investigative process. During the proceedings, senior advocate Kapil Sibal requested the court to bar the registration of additional FIRs on the same issue.

Ashoka University professor refrained from making any posts about issue.

According to the report by LiveLaw, as a condition of bail, the court prohibited Mahmudabad from posting or publishing anything related to the social media content under investigation or expressing any views on terrorist attacks on Indian soil or India’s countermeasures. He has also been ordered to cooperate fully with the investigation and surrender his passport.

The court allowed the State to present any new evidence uncovered during the ongoing probe.

Meanwhile, in a post on X, senior advocate Indira Jaising said, “How cruel is our legal system. Ali Mahmudabad and his wife are expecting their first born while he sits in prison. UP Minister who abused the woman Army officer who announced details of Op Sindoor as being “sister of terrorist” gets a no arrest order from the SC.”

Rights body sends notice

The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Wednesday took suo motu cognisance of a media report regarding the arrest and remand to custody of Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad in Haryana. In a press release issued just minutes back, the commission has said that a gist of the allegations based on which he has been arrested discloses that, prima facie, his human rights and liberty have been violated.

In view of this, the commission has issued a notice to the Director General of Police, Haryana, calling for a detailed report on the matter within one week.

Meanwhile students and civil society have raised strong objection to the arrest of the professor and the cases registered against him.