Haryana's no to prosecuting Ashoka University professor over Op Sindoor post after Supreme Court nudge

The Supreme Court closed criminal proceedings against Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad after the Haryana government said it would not grant sanction to prosecute him over social media posts related to Operation Sindoor.

The Supreme Court on Monday closed criminal proceedings against Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad after the Haryana government said it would not grant sanction to prosecute him over social media posts linked to Operation Sindoor. The development comes two months after the court earlier asked the state to reconsider the matter and end the case by refusing sanction for prosecution.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi recorded the Haryana government’s submission and ordered the closure of the case.

Appearing for the Haryana government, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju told the court that the state had decided not to proceed with prosecution, the Bar and Bench reported. “As a one-time magnanimity, the sanction is refused. The chapter is closed. He can be warned that this is not repeated again,” Raju said, adding that the refusal order was issued on March 3.

Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Mahmudabad along with advocate Nizam Pasha, welcomed the decision. “We are grateful,” Luthra told the court.

In January, the Supreme Court asked the Haryana government to reconsider the matter and close the case by refusing sanction for prosecution, according to LiveLaw. The development came during the hearing of a petition filed by Mahmudabad seeking to cancel the criminal proceedings against him.

While disposing of the matter today, the bench also cautioned the professor to exercise restraint in public commentary. “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,” CJI Kant observed.