The Supreme Court of India has granted interim bail to Ali Khan Mahmudabad, an assistant professor at Ashoka University, who was arrested by Haryana Police for his social media remarks on “Operation Sindoor.” The arrest had stirred considerable debate across academic and political circles, with critics calling it a clampdown on free speech. While the apex court acknowledged that every citizen enjoys the right to freedom of expression, it noted that Mahmudabad’s remarks amounted to “dog whistling”—a term used for coded language meant to incite certain reactions without overt provocation. The court ordered him to refrain from making any online speeches or publishing articles during the bail period and instructed him to submit bail bonds to the Chief Judicial Magistrate of Sonipat.
Despite granting bail, the Supreme Court refused to stay the ongoing investigations. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh directed the Haryana Director General of Police to form a Special Investigation Team (SIT) within 24 hours. This team will be led by an Inspector General rank officer and include a woman officer of SP rank. The case against Mahmudabad involves two FIRs—one filed by the Haryana State Commission for Women’s chairperson and the other by a village sarpanch—both accusing the professor of threatening the sovereignty and integrity of India through his online posts. The day before the hearing, Mahmudabad had been sent to five days of judicial custody.
The academic’s arrest prompted a wave of support from intellectuals, students, and political figures. Over 1,200 individuals signed an open letter urging authorities to withdraw the FIRs and accusing the Haryana Women’s Commission of targeting him unfairly. Initially distancing itself from the controversy, Ashoka University had stated that the professor’s views were personal and not representative of the institution. However, after the Supreme Court granted bail, the university expressed relief, stating it brought comfort to Mahmudabad’s family and the Ashoka community. The legal proceedings are ongoing, and the professor remains under strict judicial instructions during his bail.
