Supreme Court Grants Bail to Ali Khan Mahmudabad in Online Post Case

The Supreme Court has granted interim bail to Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a prominent figure who was embroiled in controversy over his online posts related to the recent crisis faced by India. However, the court imposed strict conditions on his release, including a ban on any further online posts or speeches on the subject matter.

Court Raises Concerns Over Language Used

The court expressed serious concerns about the language used by Khan in his posts, stating that it could have multiple interpretations. Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh, who presided over the case, highlighted that certain words used by Khan had “dual meanings” and could be perceived in different ways. This, they felt, warranted a thorough investigation.

Bail Granted with Conditions

While granting Khan interim bail, the court directed him to furnish bail bonds to the satisfaction of the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM) in Sonepat. He was also instructed to surrender his passport. The court made it clear that Khan cannot make any further online posts, articles, or speeches on the issues related to the case, nor can he comment on the recent crisis faced by India, which the court termed a “terrorist attack on Indian soil,” or the country’s counter-response.

Special Investigation Team Formed

Recognizing the complexity of the case, the court decided to form a special investigation team (SIT) to probe the matter. Notably, the SIT will not include officers from Haryana or Delhi, ensuring impartiality in the investigation. The SIT will be headed by an Inspector General of Police and will include a woman officer among its members.