New Delhi,16 March 2026: The Haryana government on Monday informed the Supreme Court that it has decided not to grant sanction to prosecute Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad over his social media posts relating to Operation Sindoor, India’s cross-border military action following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack.
Taking note of the State’s stand that it will not grant sanctio0n for the prosecution of Prof. Mahmudabad, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi recorded that the issue would not proceed further, though it advised the professor to exercise greater caution in his public remarks in future.
The Bench was told by Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, appearing for the Haryana government, that it has taken a decision on March 3 not to approve prosecution. The State described its decision as a one-time gesture of magnanimity and said that the matter should now be treated as closed.
Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Mahmudabad, expressed gratitude to the Court after the State clarified its position. While acknowledging the government’s decision, the Bench observed that public discourse on sensitive national issues requires restraint and responsibility. The Court remarked that comments made indirectly or ambiguously can sometimes create unnecessary controversy and advised the professor, being an academic, to act prudently in the future.
The case stemmed from Facebook posts made by Mahmudabad commenting on Operation Sindoor. In his remarks, he criticised Pakistan-sponsored terrorism and also cautioned against war. Referring to the widespread praise received by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi of the Indian Army, who had led the official press briefing on the operation, he had suggested that such recognition should also translate into addressing issues such as mob violence within the country.
Following these posts, two FIRs were registered against him in Haryana. One complaint alleged offence relating to promoting enmity and actions prejudicial to national integration, while another complaint filed by the Chairperson of the Haryana Women’s Commission invoked additional provisions relating to public mischief and insult to modesty.
Mahmudabad was subsequently arrested by the Haryana Police and later granted interim bail by the Supreme Court in May 2025. The Court had also ordered that the investigation be carried out by a Special Investigation Team and later stayed the trial proceedings.
During earlier hearings, the State had informed the Court that sanction to prosecute had not yet been granted for certain offences, which prevented the trial from progressing. The Supreme Court had then directed the State to take a decision on sanction within three months.
With the Haryana government now declining to grant sanction, the prosecution cannot proceed, effectively bringing the matter to a close.
Picture credit social media
Pramod kumar is a Senior Journalist, Covering Supreem Court of India
