Supreme Court of India on Wednesday granted interim bail to Ashoka University assistant professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, firmly rebuking him for a contentious social media message on India’s Operation Sindoor. Mahmudabad uploaded the Facebook post amid heightened national sentiment following the Pahalgam terror attack and India’s military operation against Pakistani terror camps.
Supreme Court Takes a Stern View
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh was not shy in words as it condemned the professor’s remarks. “Everybody has a right to express free speech. But is it the time to talk of this much communal…? The country has faced a big challenge. Monsters came all the way and attacked our innocents. We were staying united. But at this juncture… why to gain cheap popularity on this occasion?” Justice Kant said, LiveLaw reported.
The court termed Mahmudabad’s post “dog whistling,” a legal term that refers to coded or veiled language addressing specific groups. It condemned his choice of words, saying, “Although everybody has the right to freedom of expression, statements by Mahmudabad are what is called dog whistling in law.”
Granting bail, the Supreme Court imposed three major conditions: Mahmudabad should not pen or comment in public about the case, the Pahalgam attack, or Operation Sindoor; and he should hand over his passport. In addition, the Court also declined to stay the ongoing investigation and instead ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) within 24 hours. The SIT will consist of senior IPS officers from outside Haryana and Delhi.
Ashoka University Reacts
Ashoka University hailed the interim bail, saying, “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.” However, the episode highlights how intellectual voices are increasingly in the crosshairs, particularly at the time of sensitive national crises. With the ongoing SIT investigation, all eyes are on how the legal and academic fraternity will act in this high-profile case.
