Supreme Court Halts Criminal Proceedings Against Ashoka University Professor

Supreme Court Decision on Criminal Case

The Supreme Court has decided to terminate the criminal proceedings against Ali Khan Mahmoodabad, a professor at Ashoka University, following the Haryana government's refusal to grant permission for prosecution related to social media posts linked to Operation Sindoor. This development comes two months after the court had previously instructed the state government to reconsider the matter and to close the case without allowing prosecution.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) D.Y. Chandrachud and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ordered the closure of the case based on the arguments presented by the Haryana government.

Additional Solicitor General S.V. Raju, representing the Haryana government, informed the court that the state has opted not to proceed with the case. According to reports, Raju stated that the refusal for prosecution was made as a one-time concession, effectively concluding the matter. He mentioned that Mahmoodabad could be warned against repeating such actions in the future.

Raju further noted that the order of refusal was issued on March 3. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, who represented Mahmoodabad alongside advocate Nizam Pasha, welcomed the court's decision, expressing gratitude. As reported by Live Law, in January, the Supreme Court had directed the Haryana government to reconsider the case and to close it without granting prosecution approval. This latest development occurred during the hearing of Mahmoodabad's petition to quash the criminal proceedings against him.