Wed May 21 04:09:29 UTC 2025: **Here’s a summary of the text:**
The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, who was arrested over social media posts concerning “Operation Sindoor”. The court declined to stay the investigation and directed the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), composed of senior officers from outside Haryana and headed by a DGP-rank officer, to probe the case. The arrest has been widely condemned by academics, civil society, and the Congress party as an attack on free speech. The National Human Rights Commission has taken suo motu cognizance and issued a notice to the Haryana Police. Ashoka University has expressed relief at the interim bail.
**Here’s a news article based on the text, formatted for a general audience:**
**Supreme Court Grants Bail to Ashoka University Professor Arrested Over Social Media Posts**
**New Delhi, May 21, 2025** – The Supreme Court of India today granted interim bail to Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a professor at Ashoka University, who was recently arrested in connection with social media posts related to “Operation Sindoor.” The arrest, which sparked widespread condemnation as an attack on free speech, saw Mahmudabad facing charges including endangering national sovereignty.
While granting bail, the Supreme Court declined to halt the investigation and ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter. The SIT will consist of three senior police officers, none of whom can be residents of Haryana, and will be headed by a Director General of Police (DGP)-rank officer. This SIT must be constituted within 24 hours. Mahmudabad is required to submit his passport and furnish a bail bond.
The arrest has drawn criticism from various quarters. Academics, civil society groups, and the Congress party have voiced strong opposition, viewing the arrest as a suppression of free expression. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken notice, issuing a notice to the Haryana Police seeking a report on the matter.
Ashoka University has released a statement expressing relief and gratitude for the court’s decision.
During the hearing, Mahmudabad’s legal team argued that his social media posts did not incite communal tensions. The court noted the posts evolved from addressing the horrors of war to include political commentary. The hearing also heard that Mahmudabad’s wife is currently nine months pregnant. Justice Kant cautioned against registering further FIRs related to the case.
First Piper 