Today, On 6th January, The Supreme Court extended interim protection to Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad over his remarks on Operation Sindoor, giving the State six weeks to decide on sanction. The Court said no coercive action shall be taken meanwhile.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court heard the plea filed by Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, who has challenged the FIRs registered by the Haryana Police over his social media posts on “Operation Sindoor”.
The case heard by a Bench of Justices CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
During the hearing, Chief Justice of India (CJI) was informed about the status of the case by the Additional Solicitor General (ASG).
The CJI recorded the ASG’s submission,
“Although the chargesheet was filed in August 2025, sanction from the State Government has not been granted till date. He seeks time to obtain clear instructions on whether the State is inclined, as a one time measure, to withhold sanction and bring the matter to a close.”
After taking note of this, the Supreme Court decided to give the State some more time.
The CJI stated,
“We are listing the matter after six weeks. The interim directions will continue in the meantime. We are confident that he will act responsibly.”
With this, the Supreme Court has kept the interim protection in place for Professor Mahmudabad while the Haryana Government is expected to clarify whether it plans to grant sanction for prosecution or drop the case as a one-time measure.
The court will hear the matter again after six weeks.
Previously, the Court granted Mahmudabad interim bail and ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to review the two posts that led to the FIRs.
The bench later expressed concern about the SIT broadening the scope of its investigation, after discovering that investigators had seized Mahmudabad’s devices and were questioning him about his international travel over the past decade.
The Court directed the SIT to finish its investigation within four weeks.
In August, Haryana Police informed the Court that a closure report had been filed in one FIR and a chargesheet in another. The Court quashed the FIR associated with the closure report and issued an interim order preventing the magistrate from acknowledging the chargesheet in the remaining case.
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Khan serves as an associate professor and head of the political science department at Ashoka University in Sonipat. In his tweet, he urged right-wing commentators who praised Colonel Sofiya Qureshi who led the media briefing on Operation Sindoor to equally call for the protection of victims of mob lynchings and other injustices perpetrated under the BJP’s divisive policies.
The tweet noted,
“For me the press conference was just a fleeting glimpse an illusion and allusion perhaps to an India that defied the logic on which Pakistan was built. As I said, the grassroots reality that common Muslims face is different from what the government tried to show…,”
Following a complaint by Yogesh Jatheri, a case was filed against Mahmudabad under Sections 196, 197, 152, and 299 of the BNS.
A second FIR was registered based on a complaint from Haryana Women’s Commission Chairperson Renu Bhatia and included charges under Sections 353, 79, and 152 of the BNS.
Khan had issued a statement on May 14, clarifying that his remarks had been “completely misunderstood” and asserting that the commission had “no jurisdiction whatsoever” in the matter.
He explained,
“Contrary to the allegations, my post appreciated the fact that the armed forces chose Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh for the press conference to highlight that the dream of the founders of our Republic of an India united in its diversity, is still alive.”
Case Title: Mohammad Amir Ahmad@ Ali Khan Mahudabad v. State of Haryana, W.P.(Crl.) No. 219/2025
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