2 months ago
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The Supreme Court connected Monday (March 16, 2026) quashed criminal proceedings against Ashoka University prof Ali Khan Mahmudabad for his societal media posts connected ‘Operation Sindoor’ aft the Haryana Government informed that it has refused authorisation for his prosecution.
In a erstwhile hearing, a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant had asked the Haryana authorities to garbage authorisation arsenic a “one-time motion of magnanimity”.
The State, connected Monday (March 16, 2026), appearing done Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, said it had accepted the court’s suggestion. Mr. Raju urged the tribunal to caution Mr. Mahmudabad to not “indulge successful specified acts successful future”.
Chief Justice Kant, successful turn, besides advised prudence, observing that astatine times penning could beryllium deciphered by speechmaking betwixt the lines. “Sometimes the concern is sensitive, and we person to beryllium careful,” the CJI addressed elder advocator Siddharth Luthra and advocator Nizam Pasha, appearing for Mr. Mahmudabad.
The apex tribunal had successful January made the proposition to stall prosecution of the academician connected learning that Haryana had been sitting connected the assistance of authorisation since August 2025, pursuing the filing of the chargesheet against Mr. Mahmudabad successful the proceedings court.
The tribunal had suspected the academician of indulging successful “dog whistling” done his societal media posts. It had formed a Special Investigation Team of 3 elder IPS officers to “holistically recognize the complexity of the phraseology employed and for the due appreciation of immoderate of the expressions utilized successful the 2 online posts”.
The Haryana Police had arrested Mr. Mahmudabad connected May 18. It was alleged that his societal media posts connected Operation Sindoor had endangered the sovereignty and integrity of the country. The 2 FIRs — 1 based connected a ailment by the chairperson of Haryana State Commission for Women, Renu Bhatia, and the different connected a ailment by a colony sarpanch — were lodged by Rai constabulary successful Sonipat district.
