• Source:JND
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The Supreme Court on Monday paused the proceedings against the Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad over social media posts on Operation Sindoor. The apex court also barred Haryana Police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) from framing charges against Mahmudabad until the next hearing. The Haryana Police also informed the court that it had already filed a closure report in one of the cases. Earlier in the last hearing, the top court had allowed the professor to write articles and opinions, barring sub judice matter.

Earlier on July 16, the top court relaxed the bail condition of Mahmudabad by stating that he can write articles and opinions except on sub judice matter. The apex court relaxed the professor's bail condition imposed on May 21 and allowed him write posts, articles and express any opinion except on the sub judice case.

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The court also cautioned the Haryana Police’s Special Investigation Team (SIT) against widening its scope of the investigation into Mahmudabad's social media posts related to 'Operation Sindoor'. The professor was arrested for social media posts related to 'Operation Sindoor' and allegedly on Major Sophia Qureshi.

Giving relief to the professor, the Supreme Court said since Mahmudabad was cooperating with the investigation, there was no need to summon him again. The top court also questioned the line of probe adopted by the SIT, saying "it misdirected itself". A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi directed the probe team to only confine itself to the two FIRs against the professor over his contentious social media posts and see if there was an offence and submit its report in four weeks.

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Haryana Police arrested Mahmudabad on May 18 following the FIRs over his posts on Operation Sindoor that allegedly "endangered the sovereignty and integrity of the country". The two FIRs -- one based on a complaint by the chairperson of Haryana State Commission for Women, Renu Bhatia, and the other on a complaint by a village sarpanch -- were lodged by Rai Police in Sonipat district.

(Updates to follow)