India Morning News
The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim bail to Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, while strongly criticizing his social media post on Operation Sindoor, calling it “dogwhistling” and “cheap popularity” during a time of national crisis.
Professor Mahmudabad, Head of the Political Science Department at Ashoka University, was arrested last week on charges of promoting enmity and threatening national integrity through a controversial post following the Pahalgam terror attack. The post, seen as anti-war and critical of government optics, triggered two FIRs—one of them filed by Haryana’s Women’s Commission Chairperson Renu Bhatia.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing the professor, argued that there was no criminal intent behind the post and emphasized the professor’s emotional state, mentioning his pregnant wife and time spent in custody.
Justice Surya Kant, part of the bench hearing the case, questioned the professor’s timing and choice of words. “Monsters attacked our people. Is this the time to raise such points? Why seek cheap popularity?” he asked, underscoring the need for responsible free speech.
The court acknowledged that the professor’s post carried “anti-war” sentiments and stressed that such statements could have dual meanings. However, it refused to halt the investigation and directed the Haryana DGP to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising three IPS officers from outside Haryana and Delhi, including one female officer.
The court granted interim bail with conditions: Professor Mahmudabad cannot comment on Operation Sindoor, the Pahalgam attack, or related matters, must avoid public commentary on the case, and surrender his passport.
Ashoka University welcomed the court’s decision, calling it a source of “great comfort” to the professor’s family and community.
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