The Supreme Court on Monday quashed the criminal case against Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad. The Haryana Government told the Court that it had decided not to grant a sanction for his prosecution in the case over his social media posts on “Operation Sindoor.”
A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi recorded the statement made for the State by Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju. After recording that submission, the Court closed the matter.
State’s Stand on Ali Khan Mahmudabad Prosecution Sanction
During the hearing, ASG Raju also submitted that the Professor may be warned so that “he may not indulge in such acts in the future.”
Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra and Advocate Nizam Pasha appeared for the Professor.
The matter arose from a petition filed by Professor Khan seeking the quashing of the criminal proceedings.
Earlier, the Court had urged the State to reconsider the issue. It had also asked the State to close the matter by declining sanction for prosecution.
Earlier Proceedings in the Ali Khan Mahmudabad Prosecution Sanction Matter
In May last year, the Supreme Court granted interim bail to Professor Khan. At that stage, however, the Court had orally deprecated his posts.
The Court had also constituted a Special Investigation Team. It asked the SIT to ascertain the real meaning of the posts and determine whether they disclosed any criminality.
FIR Behind the Ali Khan Mahmudabad Prosecution Sanction Case
While disposing of the matter, the Bench also recorded: “We have no reason to doubt that the petitioner, being a highly learned professor, will act prudently in the future.”
Chief Justice Surya Kant further observed, “Sometimes writing in a manner which can be read between the lines creates more problems. Sometimes the situation is sensitive, and we all have to be careful.”
Supreme Court Closes Ali Khan Mahmudabad Prosecution Sanction Dispute
The case arose from an FIR registered against Prof. Mahmudabad over certain social media comments on the treatment of minorities in India.
He posted those comments in the context of appreciation for Colonel Sofiya Qureshi leading the press briefings of Operation Sindoor.
The authorities had invoked, among other provisions, Sections 196 and 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. These provisions relate to acts prejudicial to maintaining communal harmony, assertions likely to cause disharmony, and acts endangering national sovereignty.
Three Days in Custody
Professor Khan had spent three days in custody before the Supreme Court granted him interim bail.
Case Details
Case Details: Mohammad Amir Ahmad @ Ali Khan Mahmudabad v. State of Haryana
Case No.: W.P.(Crl.) No. 219/2025
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