Remarks on Operation Sindoor: Supreme Court to Hear Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad’s Plea on Nov 18

The Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi took note that the matter would require detailed hearing and said it would be taken up on a non-miscellaneous day.

Appearing for Professor Mahmudabad, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal urged the Court to direct the authorities to return his client’s passport, which had been seized during the investigation.

Responding, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for the State, remarked, “If he wants to go abroad, he can give his itenarary”

Justice Kant observed that the Court would take up the matter after a week or so, subsequently fixing it for hearing on November 18.

In August, the Haryana Police informed the Court that it had filed a closure report in one FIR and a chargesheet in another. Taking note, the Court quashed the FIR in which a closure report was filed and passed an interim order restraining the magistrate from taking cognizance of the chargesheet in the remaining case.

During the earlier hearings, Sibal had also questioned the invocation of Section 152 of the BNS, a provision stated to replace the old sedition law—pointing out that its constitutional validity is already under challenge before the Apex Court.

Recently, Supreme Court had refused to set aside two of the bail conditions imposed on Khan Mahmudabad who has been arrested by Haryana Police over controversial statements made on Operation Sindoor. As per the order granting interim bail to Mahmudabad, he was directed not to write any online post, article or any oral speech related to either of the two online posts, which are subject-matter of the investigation and also restrained from expressing any opinion in relation to the terrorist attack on Indian soil or the counter response given by our armed forces.

Khan is an associate professor and head of the department of political science at Ashoka University in Sonipat. In his tweet Khan urged right-wing commentators who praised Colonel Sofiya Qureshi - who led the media briefing on Operation Sindoor - to also equally loudly demand that the victims of mob lynchings, arbitrary bulldozing and others who are victims of the BJP's hate mongering be protected as Indian citizens.

"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...", the tweet added.

A case was registered against Mahmudabad based on a complaint by Yogesh Jatheri under Sections 196, 197, 152 and 299 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The second FIR was registered following a complaint by Haryana Women’s Commission Chairperson Renu Bhatia and included charges under Sections 353, 79 and 152 of the BNS. Khan had also issued a statement on May 14 saying his remarks had been “completely misunderstood” and that the commission had “no jurisdiction whatsoever” in the matter. “Contrary to the allegations, my post appreciated the fact that the armed forces chose Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh for the press conference to highlight that the dream of the founders of our Republic of an India united in its diversity, is still alive,” he had clarified.

Case Title: Mohammad Amir Ahmad@ Ali Khan Mahudabad v. State of Haryana

Hearing Date: October 27, 2025

Bench: Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi