Ali Khan Mahmudabad was arrested on May 18 and released on bail three days later
The Supreme Court on Monday stayed trial court proceedings against Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, who faces two police cases for a controversial social media post on Operation Sindoor.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi also told the trial court that it can't frame charges against Mr Mahmudabad till the next hearing.
During the hearing, the Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the top court, informed the bench that it had filed a closure report in one of the cases filed against Mr Mahmudabad.
Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mr Mahmudabad, told the Supreme Court that it was "unfortunate" that the police invoked Section 152 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with offences attacking the sovereignty of the nation, for the social media comments.
Mr Mahmudabad was arrested on May 18 for a social media post on the government's choice of Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh for briefings on Operation Sindoor, which was launched to avenge the deadly April 22 Pahalgam attack.
The Supreme Court granted him bail three days later with conditions that he will not write any article or online post or deliver any speech related to the case, he won't comment on the Pahalgam attack or Operation Sindoor, and he will surrender his passport.
The bench then relaxed the professor's bail conditions and allowed him to write posts, articles and express any opinion except on the sub judice case.
On May 28, the court said there was no impediment to the professor's right to speech and expression, but barred him from sharing anything online about the cases against him.
Mr Mahmudabad was charged under BNS sections 152 (acts endangering sovereignty or unity and integrity of India), 353 (statements conducing to public mischief), 79 (deliberate actions aimed at insulting the modesty of a woman) and 196 (1) (promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion).
