Today, On 25th August, Supreme Court stayed the trial against Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad over a Facebook post on Operation Sindoor, clearly stating that cognisance should not be taken of the chargesheet and no charges shall be framed.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court temporarily stayed proceedings against Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, who is facing two police cases due to a controversial social media post regarding Operation Sindoor.
A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi instructed the Haryana Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) not to frame charges against Mahmudabad until the next hearing.
During the proceedings, the Haryana Police informed the court that it had submitted a closure report in one of the cases against him.
Mahmudabad was arrested on May 18 for his post concerning the government’s selection of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh for briefings related to Operation Sindoor, which was initiated in response to the April 22 Pahalgam attack.
He was granted bail three days later, with conditions prohibiting him from writing articles or online posts, delivering speeches about the case, commenting on the Pahalgam attack, or Operation Sindoor, and requiring him to surrender his passport.
Subsequently, the court relaxed his bail conditions, allowing him to express his opinions and write content, provided it does not pertain to the ongoing legal matters.
Earlier, On May 28, the court clarified that there were no restrictions on his right to free speech, but he was still barred from sharing anything online related to the cases against him.
Also Read: Remarks on Col Sofiya Qureshi: SC to Hear MP Minister Vijay Shah’s Plea Today
Mahmudabad faces charges under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including 152 (acts endangering sovereignty or unity and integrity of India), 353 (statements conducing to public mischief), 79 (deliberate actions aimed at insulting the modesty of a woman), and 196 (1) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion).
The first case against Mahmudabad was filed based on a complaint by Yogesh Jatheri, invoking Sections 196 (promoting hatred), 197 (imputations and assertions prejudicial to national integration), 152 (endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India), and 299 (culpable homicide) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The second FIR stemmed from a complaint by Haryana Women’s Commission Chairperson Renu Bhatia, which included charges under Sections 353 (public mischief), 79 (insult to modesty), and 152 of the BNS.
The State Women’s Commission previously described Mahmudabad’s social media comments as disparaging toward women officers in the Indian Armed Forces and accused him of promoting communal disharmony, issuing a show-cause notice to the professor.
In a statement on X (Twitter), Mahmudabad asserted that the commission had completely misinterpreted his comments and distorted their meaning. He is expected to be presented before the trial court next on May 20 at 2 PM.
Case Title: Mohammad Amir Ahmad @ Ali Khan Mahmudabad v. State of Haryana
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
