Supreme Court directs SIT to limit probe against Prof Mahmudabad to Operation Sindoor posts

The Supreme Court today directed the Special Investigation Team constituted as per its previous orders to confine its investigation against Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad to the controversial posts made by him on Operation Sindoor.

"There were some doubts about the scope of the investigation. We direct the SIT that the investigation shall be confined to the contents of the two media posts made on May 8 and 11, 2025.", a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi has noted in its order.

Furthermore, the SIT has been directed to conclude its investigation into the case within a period of four weeks. 

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal mentioned before court today that the SIT sought two more months. "They want to know for last 10 years where I have travelled..", Sibal added.

Court then went on to tell Additional Solicitor General SV Raju that the investigation should be in the right direction.

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.

National Human Rights Commission had taken suo motu cognizance of a media report regarding the arrest and remand to custody of Professor Mahmudabad. As per the Commission, the report, which contained a gist of the allegations on the basis of which he has been arrested, discloses, prima facie, that the human rights and liberty of the said Professor have been violated. Accordingly, it has issued a notice to the Director General of Police, Haryana, calling for a detailed report in the matter within one week.

While granting interim bail to Mahmudabad Justice Surya Kant led bench has observed, "When the choice of words is deliberately made to insult or humiliate...a learned professor cannot have the lack of dictionary words..you can put these feelings in a simple language without hurting other sentiments..".

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 MAHMUDABAD vs. STATE OF HARYANA