Ashoka University associate professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, arrested for his social media posts on Operation Sindoor, was granted an interim bail by the Supreme Court on Wednesday (May 21, 2025). The court, however, refused to stay the FIRs registered against him.
The Supreme Court further barred Mr. Mahmudabad from posting anything online regarding the matter.
The top court directed the Haryana Police to form a special investigation team (SIT) of three IPS officers, not belonging to Haryana and including a woman officer, to investigate the terms used in his posts. The police have been directed to form the SIT by Thursday (May 22, 2025). it also asked the police not to entertain fresh FIRs in the matter.
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Mr. Mahmudabad has been asked to surrender his passport to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Sonepat, and furnish common bail bonds in both FIRs
Meanwhile, Haryana Police said that it should be given liberty to place any further evidence in the course of its investigation to seek lifting of the interim relief.
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The Supreme Court made it clear that Mr. Mahmudabad must cooperate with the investigation and that the interim bail has been given to facilitate his cooperation
Published – May 21, 2025 12:29 pm IST
