Overview

• Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a political science professor at Ashoka University, was released from detention after the Supreme Court granted him interim bail on May 22.
• The bail comes with conditions, including the surrender of his passport and a prohibition on further public commentary about Operation Sindoor or his case.
• The Supreme Court ordered Haryana's police chief to form a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to examine the intent and context of Mahmudabad's social media posts.
• The NHRC has taken suo motu cognizance of the case, expressing concerns about potential human rights violations during Mahmudabad's arrest and detention.
• The case has sparked widespread criticism from academics and human rights advocates, with debates centered on free speech, academic freedom, and the application of national security laws.