Supreme Court to Hear Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad’s Plea on ‘Operation Sindoor’ Remarks on November 18. FIRs filed by Haryana Police over his social media posts; bench led by Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi said the case requires detailed hearing.
The Supreme Court scheduled a hearing for Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad’s plea for November 18.
This follows FIRs filed by the Haryana Police related to his social media posts on “Operation Sindoor.”
Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi noted that the case requires a detailed hearing and will be addressed on a non-miscellaneous day.
During the proceedings, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Professor Mahmudabad, requested the Court to order the return of his client’s passport, which had been confiscated during the investigation.
In response, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, representing the State, remarked,
“If he wants to go abroad, he can give his itinerary.”
Justice Kant indicated that the matter would be revisited in about a week, ultimately scheduling the hearing for November 18.
Earlier, In August, the Haryana Police informed the Court that it had submitted a closure report for one FIR and a chargesheet for another.
The Court subsequently quashed the FIR associated with the closure report and issued an interim order preventing the magistrate from taking cognizance of the chargesheet in the other case.
During prior hearings, Sibal had also challenged the use of Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), a provision intended to replace the previous sedition law, highlighting that its constitutional validity is currently under scrutiny by the Supreme Court.
Recently, the Supreme Court directed the Special Investigation Team, formed in accordance with previous orders, to limit its investigation to the controversial posts made by Professor Mahmudabad regarding Operation Sindoor, with a deadline to complete the investigation within four weeks.
The Court also declined to nullify two bail conditions imposed on Mahmudabad, who was arrested by the Haryana Police for his contentious statements about Operation Sindoor.
The interim bail order stipulated that he refrain from making any online posts, articles, or speeches related to the two posts under investigation, and from expressing opinions concerning terrorist attacks on Indian territory or the armed forces’ responses.
Khan serves as an associate professor and head of the political science department at Ashoka University in Sonipat.
In his tweet, he called on right-wing commentators who praised Colonel Sofiya Qureshi who led the media briefing on Operation Sindoor to equally demand protection for victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing, and other acts of violence perpetuated by the BJP.
He stated,
“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…”
A case against Mahmudabad was initiated following a complaint by Yogesh Jatheri, citing Sections 196, 197, 152, and 299 of the BNS.
A second FIR was filed based on a complaint from Haryana Women’s Commission Chairperson Renu Bhatia, which included charges under Sections 353, 79, and 152 of the BNS. On May 14, Khan clarified that his remarks had been “completely misunderstood” and asserted that the commission had “no jurisdiction whatsoever” in the matter.
He emphasized that, contrary to the allegations, his post recognized the significance of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh being chosen for the press conference, highlighting 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