The Supreme Court of India on Wednesday granted interim bail to Ali Khan Mahmudabad, Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Political Science at Ashoka University, but sharply criticised his controversial social media post on Operation Sindoor, calling it an attempt at “cheap popularity” amid national crisis.
A bench of Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh heard the bail plea filed by Mahmudabad, who was arrested last week under charges related to promoting enmity and endangering national integrity.
SC Slams Language Used in Post: “Monsters Attacked Our Country”
While hearing arguments from Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, the court defended the right to free speech, but questioned the timing and tone of the professor’s remarks. “Monsters came and attacked our people. Why seek cheap popularity on such occasions?” asked Justice Kant.
The court noted that while the remarks were framed as anti-war, the language amounted to dogwhistling, deliberately provoking discomfort and insult. “There is a difference between dissent and incitement. A person of his stature should choose his words wisely,” the bench observed.
Justice Kant further added, “This country has spent 75 years distributing rights, but where is the conversation around duty?”
Bail Granted with Conditions, SIT Formed to Investigate
The Supreme Court declined to pause the investigation, but directed the DGP of Haryana to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter thoroughly. The SIT will be composed of three IPS officers, none of whom are from Haryana or Delhi, and will be headed by an IG-level officer, with one woman officer on the panel.
ALSO READ: 27 Naxals killed in yet another anti-Maoist operation; top Red commander may have been killed
Professor Mahmudabad was granted interim bail on three key conditions:
- He must not publish any articles, online posts, or deliver public speeches related to the case.
- He cannot comment on Operation Sindoor or the Pahalgam terror attack.
- He must surrender his passport to the authorities.
Two FIRs Filed, Women’s Panel Alleges Disparagement of Female Officers
Professor Mahmudabad faces two FIRs, one of which was filed by Renu Bhatia, chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women, over remarks seen as disparaging to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, who had briefed the media on Operation Sindoor.
In his post, Mahmudabad had said: “The optics of two women soldiers presenting their findings is important but optics must translate to reality on the ground otherwise it’s just hypocrisy.”
ALSO READ: Haryana YouTuber Jyoti Malhotra held for espionage, confesses to ties with Pakistani officials
The Women’s Commission alleged that these statements undermined the role of women in uniform and discredited their professionalism in the armed forces.
In response, Mahmudabad said his words had been “misread and misunderstood” and that the women’s panel had overreached its jurisdiction.
Ashoka University Welcomes Bail Order
Following the Supreme Court’s decision, Ashoka University issued a statement welcoming the development. “We are relieved and heartened by Prof Ali Khan Mahmudabad being granted interim bail by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. It has provided great comfort to his family and all of us at Ashoka University,” the university stated.
The case has reignited a national debate on free speech, academic freedom, and responsible discourse, especially during periods of national security crises.
