Absurd Case Against Ali Khan Mahmudabad & Perils Of Chilling Effect https://www.livelaw.in/articles/absurd-case-against-ali-khan-mahmudabad-perils-of-chilling-effect-292967 Kalpana Kannabiran 22 May 2025 Televised interviews with the complainant-chairperson sadly exposed a total lack of comprehension on her part, of the post – rendering her complaint malicious and false. Despite this, the Hon'ble Supreme Court, while granting interim bail has directed the constitution of a Special Investigation Team by the Director General of Police, Haryana, consisting of senior police officers to determine the 'meaning of the words' in the post; ordered surrender of his passport; and barred him from posting content on social media. While it is a relief to have him released from custody, the wide-ranging powers placed in the very same police establishment that arrested him is a cause for concern.
JD: I wonder what kind of petition can individual or an organisation like pucl file to tell the supreme court that it is failing in its duty to protect fundamental right if it is not able to protect us from such 'chilling effects' on our fundamental rights.
SS: This subject judgement is at least partly comparable with Supreme Court judgement on June 24 2022 ordering probe against Teesta Setalvad charging her with falsifying evidence in the Zakia Jafri case just out of the blue!
Here also the Court, virtually suo moto, visions "dog whistle" and orders constitution of an SIT to conduct an open-ended probe. This is too ominous.
Calls for a broad-based national campaign.