Ashoka University on Wednesday expressed deep relief and gratitude after the Supreme Court granted interim bail to its faculty member, Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad.
“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 said in an official statement.
Professor Mahmudabad was arrested by Haryana Police on Sunday over social media posts related to Operation Sindoor, a recent military action along the India-Pakistan border.
Supreme Court Grants Interim Relief
While granting interim bail, a Supreme Court bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh declined to stay the investigation. The Court emphasized that legal scrutiny of the matter must continue.
The bench instructed the Haryana Director General of Police to constitute a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) within 24 hours. The SIT must be headed by an officer of Inspector General rank and include a woman officer of Superintendent rank.
Additionally, the Court directed Mahmudabad to refrain from posting further commentary online regarding the India-Pakistan conflict. He has also been ordered to fully cooperate with the SIT during the ongoing probe.
Arrest & Charges
Professor Mahmudabad was taken into custody on May 19 following the registration of two FIRs at the Rai police station in Haryana’s Sonipat district. The charges stemmed from allegations that his social media posts threatened the sovereignty and integrity of India.
One FIR was based on a complaint by Renu Bhatia, chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women, while the other was filed by a local village sarpanch.
On Tuesday, a local court in Sonipat remanded Mahmudabad to judicial custody till May 27.
Widespread Backlash & Solidarity
The arrest sparked strong reactions from across the academic and political spectrum. Many academics, public intellectuals, and political parties criticized the move, arguing that the arrest amounted to a suppression of academic freedom and freedom of expression.
Supporters have stressed that Mahmudabad, a historian and professor of political science, was expressing scholarly opinions and that criminalizing such expression poses a serious threat to democratic values.
While the Supreme Court’s interim bail order has brought temporary relief to Mahmudabad and his family, the legal battle continues. The SIT is now tasked with examining the nature and intent of his social media posts.
The case has reignited the debate over the limits of academic expression, freedom of speech, and the role of law enforcement in responding to dissenting views, especially those expressed in a digital public space.
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