Indian Courts Scrutinize “Operation Sindoor” Arrests, Uphold Free Speech Concerns

Indian courts are critically examining arrests related to social media posts concerning “Operation Sindoor,” with recent rulings by the Bombay High Court and the Supreme Court highlighting concerns over due process and freedom of expression.

In a strong rebuke to authorities, the Bombay High Court granted bail to Khadija Sheikh, a Muslim 19-year-old engineering student, the Clarion reported. Sheikh was arrested over an Instagram post critical of “Operation Sindoor,” despite having deleted the content and apologized. The court condemned both her college and the Maharashtra government for treating her like a “hardcore criminal,” calling the arrest “shocking.” Justices ordered her immediate release to attend exams, suspended her rustication, and mandated her college to provide a hall ticket, emphasizing that institutions should guide, not punish. The court dismissed the state’s “anti-national” accusation as overreach.

Concurrently, the Supreme Court extended interim bail for Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad, a prominent Shia personality also arrested over social media posts on “Operation Sindoor.” While maintaining a gag order preventing him from public commentary on the case, the court upheld the bail condition stressing that free speech does not protect remarks under legal scrutiny. The Supreme Court directed the SIT to submit a progress report and restricted Haryana Police from expanding their probe beyond the two existing FIRs, which include charges related to endangering sovereignty and promoting religious enmity. The National Human Rights Commission’s notice regarding alleged rights violations during Mahmudabad’s arrest was also acknowledged, as critics continue to decry the case as an assault on academic freedom.