The Supreme Court on Wednesday issued an interim bail to Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad while refusing to stay a further investigation on him.

Mahmudabad has received social media backlash for his comments about Operation Sindhoor and his remarks on the two women officers who addressed a press briefing to give updates on Operation Sindhoor, a retaliation against the killing of 26 Indians by Pakistan based LeT terrorists.

The apex court also ordered that Mahmudabad must not write any online article or make any online speech related to both posts, which are subject matter of investigation.  A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotisar Singh, while hearing the matter, also slammed the professor and questioned, “Why try to gain cheap popularity?”

The SC further directed Haryana DGP to constitute a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) within 24 hours and asked the associate professor to join the investigation and fully cooperate.

Calling his actions and social media posts “Dog whistling”, they also questioned Mahmudabad’s choice of words and said they were used to humiliate, insult, and put others in discomfort.

“Although everybody has the right to freedom of expression, statements by Mahmudabad are what is called dog whistling in law,” the top court added “At the time when so many things were happening in the country, where was the occasion for him to use these kinds of words which could be insulting, humiliating and putting others in discomfort. He is a learned man; he cannot be said to be short of words.” it added.

In a statement about his bail, Ashoka University said, “We are relieved and heartened by Prof Ali Khan Mahmudabad being granted interim bail by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. It has provided great comfort to his family and all of us at Ashoka University.” However, they refused to respond to queries on the varsity’s stance about his social media posts.

Also read: ED arrests 2 Ashoka University promoters over bank fraud