Operation Sindoor remarks: Haryana govt drops case against Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad

NEW DELHI: The Haryana govt on Monday informed Supreme Court that it, as “one-time magnanimity”, has decided to drop the case against Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad for making objectionable statements against ‘Operation Sindoor’.

Appearing for Haryana, additional solicitor general S V Raju told a bench of CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi that the Haryana govt has refused sanction for Mahmudabad’s prosecution, which would mean the case is closed even though the state police had filed a chargesheet against him.

However, he said SC should warn him against making such statements in the future.

The court approved the “one-time magnanimity” offer and asked the professor, who was arrested in May last year, to be careful about what he says. “Sometimes reading between the lines conveys a very different message and causes problem”, and the professor should desist from such statements, the bench said.

Approving the closure of the case against Mahmudabad, pending before judicial magistrate first class at Sonepat, the bench said, “We have no reason to doubt that the petitioner, a highly educated person, will be cautious and act in a prudent manner in the future.”
Appearing for Mahmudabad, senior advocate Sidharth Luthra and counsel Mohd Nizam Pasha said the professor understood the message given by SC.

On May 21 last year, the bench granted interim bail to Mahmudabad but constituted an SIT of IPS officers to probe into the bona fides of his allegedly objectionable statement made during ‘Operation SIndoor’. It had also barred him from making any statement on the operation by the Indian armed forces against Pakistan.