Blitz Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court has quashed criminal proceedings against Ashoka University’s political science professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, after the Haryana Government informed the apex court that it had refused to grant sanction for his prosecution over social media posts related to ‘Operation Sindoor’.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi recorded the submission of Additional Solicitor General (ASG) SV Raju, appearing for the Haryana Government, that it had decided not to proceed with prosecution as a “one-time gesture of magnanimity”.
“As a one-time magnanimity, the sanction is refused. The chapter is closed. He can be warned that this is not repeated again,” ASG Raju submitted before the top court.
While disposing of the matter, the Bench also issued a word of caution to the petitioner, observing that he should act prudently in the future.
“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,” the apex court observed.
It further said that it had no reason to doubt that Mahmudabad, being a highly learned professor, would act responsibly in the future. The court was hearing a petition filed by Mahmudabad seeking the quashing of the criminal proceedings initiated against him over two social media posts concerning Operation Sindoor, India’s cross-border military response to Pakistan following the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack.
In an earlier hearing, the CJI-led bench had impressed upon the Haryana Government to reconsider the matter and close the criminal case by declining sanction for prosecution.
Mahmudabad had approached the Supreme Court challenging his arrest and the registration of two FIRs lodged against him by the Haryana Police.
