SC Quashes Prosecution of Ashoka Professor After Haryana Denies Sanction
SC Quashes Prosecution of Ashoka Professor After Haryana Denies Sanction
Supreme Court ends criminal proceedings against Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad after Haryana refuses prosecution sanction over social media posts on Operation Sindoor.
In a significant turn in a high-profile academic case, the Supreme Court disposed of Ali Khan Mahmudabad's petition to quash criminal proceedings after Haryana informed the court it had refused to grant sanction for his prosecution.
The Haryana Police had arrested Mahmudabad on May 18 for social media posts on 'Operation Sindoor' that were alleged to endanger the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
Earlier, a bench headed by Chief Justice Surya Kant encouraged Haryana to consider sanction as a one-time act of magnanimity. On Monday, the state said it had accepted the suggestion and sought to caution Mahmudabad against similar acts in the future.
The court was told that Haryana had been sitting on the sanction since August 2025, even as a chargesheet had been filed in the trial court. It also re-emphasised the need for prudent regulation of online content.
To better understand the language used in the two online posts, the court had formed a Special Investigation Team of three senior IPS officers; the team was tasked with holistically assessing the figures and expressions involved.
In addition to quashing the proceedings, the apex court noted that interim bail granted to Mahmudabad would continue while the matter is reviewed and underscored the broader dialogue on balancing free expression with national security online.
