The Supreme Court on Monday brought an end to the criminal proceedings against Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad after the Haryana government informed the court that it would not grant sanction to prosecute him over social media posts related to Operation Sindoor. The decision effectively closed the case, which had been under judicial consideration for several months.
A bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi recorded the Haryana government’s statement during the hearing and ordered that the proceedings against the professor be closed. The development came nearly two months after the court had earlier advised the state government to reconsider the matter and bring the case to a conclusion by declining permission to prosecute.
Representing the Haryana government in court, Additional Solicitor General SV Raju informed the bench that the state had decided not to move forward with criminal prosecution. According to reports, he told the court that the government had refused sanction as a “one-time act of magnanimity,” effectively closing the matter while also warning that such conduct should not be repeated in the future. Raju added that the formal order refusing sanction had already been issued on March 3.
Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, who appeared on behalf of Mahmudabad along with advocate Nizam Pasha, expressed appreciation for the decision taken by the state government and acknowledged the court’s role in resolving the matter. During the hearing, Luthra told the bench that the defence was grateful for the outcome.
Earlier in January, the Supreme Court had asked the Haryana government to review the issue of granting sanction for prosecution and suggested that the case could be resolved if the state declined permission to proceed with criminal charges. The observation came during the hearing of a petition filed by Mahmudabad seeking the quashing of the criminal proceedings initiated against him.
While closing the case, the bench also advised the professor to exercise caution in his public statements and commentary. Chief Justice Surya Kant remarked that sometimes the way statements are written can create misunderstandings, especially if they allow readers to interpret meanings “between the lines.” He noted that certain situations can be sensitive and therefore require careful expression.
The court further observed that it had no reason to doubt that Mahmudabad, being an experienced academic and scholar, would act responsibly and with prudence in the future when expressing his views publicly.
The controversy originated from two First Information Reports (FIRs) registered against the professor over Facebook posts related to Operation Sindoor. The operation was India’s cross-border military response to Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack that took place last year.
In the posts, Mahmudabad had criticised Pakistan-backed terrorism and expressed opposition to war. At the same time, he commented that public praise for Sofiya Qureshi, who led the official press briefings for the operation, should also translate into broader support for minority rights and stronger condemnation of mob lynching.
Complaints filed by a private individual as well as by the chairperson of the Haryana State Commission for Women led to the registration of criminal cases against him. The FIRs invoked provisions under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to promoting enmity, actions that could endanger national unity, and acts considered public mischief.
Following the registration of the cases, Mahmudabad was arrested by the Haryana Police and remained in custody for three days. In May 2025, the Supreme Court granted him interim bail and later ordered a pause on the trial proceedings. The court also directed the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the content of the social media posts and determine whether they contained elements that could constitute a criminal offence.
With the Haryana government ultimately declining to grant sanction for prosecution, the Supreme Court concluded that there was no reason to continue the proceedings. As a result, the case against the Ashoka University professor has now been formally closed.
