New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday (May 28) extended the interim bail earlier granted to Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, who was earlier arrested in connection with cases registered over his social media post over Operation Sindoor, till further orders and said the scope of probe will be restricted to First Information Reports (FIRs).
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Dipankar Datta extended the interim bail while hearing an application by Mahmudabad eeking relaxation of certain conditions imposed by the trial court while granting him interim protection.
Apex court earlier granted Mahmudabad interim bail
The apex court earlier on May 21 granted interim bail to Mahmudabad with certain conditions imposed on him, including surrendering his passport in cases registered against him over his social media post on Operation Sindoor. The bench, however, refused to stay the ongoing investigation against him and directed the Haryana DGP to constitute a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) within 24 hours for investigating the case. It had also directed Mahmudabad to not make any online post, not to deliver any speech and not to make any comments on Operation Sindoor.
Mahmudabad urged bench to relax conditions
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mahmudabad, urged the bench on Wednesday to relax conditions and expressed his apprehension that the SIT constituted by the Haryana government on the top court order may take this opportunity and investigate other things as well.
Scope of investigation against Mahmudabad would be restricted to two FIRs: Apex Court
The bench, after hearing submissions, made it clear that the scope of investigation against him would be restricted to the two FIRs.
“We direct that investigation of SIT shall be confined to contents of the 2 FIRs subject matter of these proceedings. The investigation report, before it is filed before jurisdictional court, be produced before this court. The interim protection to continue till further orders,” the bench said.
No impediment on Mahnudabad’s right to speech and expression but no online post with respect to cases: Apex Court
The bench, while refusing to reconsider the restrictions imposed on Mahmudabad at this stage, also made it clear that there was no impediment on his right to speech and expression but he cannot post anything online with respect to the cases against him.
The bench also asked the Haryana police to apprise it about their response to the notice by the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), which on May 21 said it has taken suo motu cognisance of a media report in connection with Mahmudabad’s arrest, on registration of FIR against Mahmudabad.
Mahmudabad was arrested by Haryana Police on May 18 after two FIRs were registered against him
Mahmudabad was arrested by the Haryana Police on May 18 after two FIRs were registered against him alleging that his social media posts on Operation Sindoor endangered the sovereignty and integrity of the country.
The FIRs against Mahmudabad, the head of Ashoka University’s political science department, were lodged at the Rai police station in Sonipat district on two complaints – one made by the chairperson of Haryana State Commission for Women, Renu Bhatia, and the other on a complaint made by a village sarpanch.
