The Supreme Court Wednesday said it had only restrained Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, arrested over his social media posts on Operation Sindoor, from writing on topics that were sub-judice and he is free to write or express opinions on other topics.
Asking why the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up to probe the case was “misdirecting itself”, the bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi directed it to conclude the investigation in four weeks.
“We are asking why SIT is, on the face of it, misdirecting itself. They were supposed to examine the contents of the posts,” Justice Kant said as Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Mahmudabad, said the SIT had seized his devices and was asking about his foreign trips over the last 10 years.
Sibal contended that the Supreme Court order of May 28 required the SIT to probe only the contents of the two social media posts over which he was arrested. He said the academician was summoned four times in connection with the investigation and added that there cannot be a roving inquiry.
The counsel for Haryana state said it is up to the investigating officer as to how the probe is conducted, and all incriminating aspects need to be looked into.
The court, however, said that the professor need not be summoned again and directed that the probe be completed in four weeks’ time. Justice Kant told the state’s counsel, “You don’t require him. You require a dictionary.”
It said in the order, “Though it may not be expedient or desirable for us to comment on the manner in which the SIT has proceeded, we however deem it to remind it the mandate contained in our order dated May 28 and consequently direct the SIT to conclude its investigation with reference to the contents of the two social media posts as early as possible but not later than four weeks.”
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“Since the petitioner has already joined the investigation and handed over his personal gadgets, it seems to us that it may not be necessary to summon the petitioner again for joining the investigation,” the bench added.
