The Supreme Court extended its interim protection from arrest to historian and academic Mohammad Amir Ahmad, who is facing two FIRs filed by the Haryana Police over social media posts dated 8 May and 11 May 2025. These FIRs were registered in the wake of the petitioner’s online remarks concerning the Indo-Pak escalations following the terror attack on tourists in Pahalgam.
A Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi took up the matter and reiterated that the scope of the investigation by the Special Investigation Team (SIT), previously constituted by the Court, must remain limited to examining whether the contents of the two posts attract any cognizable offence under applicable penal laws. The Court expressly cautioned against any attempt to expand the probe beyond the confines of the two FIRs at issue.
The Bench took note of the interim report submitted by the Chairperson of the SIT, which confirmed that the petitioner had fully cooperated with the investigation and had handed over his electronic devices. These devices were sent for forensic analysis, and a report has since been received and is being reviewed by the SIT. Acknowledging the petitioner’s cooperation, the Court held that there was no need to summon him again and directed the SIT to complete its investigation within four weeks.
In response to concerns raised about restrictions on the petitioner’s expression, the Court clarified that he is free to write articles or express his views online, as long as he refrains from commenting on sub judice matters.
The matter has been scheduled for further consideration on 22 August 2025, and the interim protection against arrest will remain in force until further orders.
Petitioner(s):Â Mr. Kapil Sibal, Sr. Adv.; Mr. Siddharth Luthra, Sr. Adv.; Mr. Shri Singh, Adv.; Mr. Nizam Pasha, Adv.; Mr. Lzafeer Ahmad B.F., AOR; Ms. Aparajita Jamwal, Adv.; Ms. Awstika Das, Adv.; Mr. Arif Ali, Adv.; Mr. Mushtaq Salim, Adv.; Mr. Sidharth Kaushik, Adv.; Mr. Ahmad Ibrahim, Adv.; Mr. Sachin Dubey, Adv.; Mr. Madhav Deepak, Adv.; Mr. Shubham Arun, Adv.; Ms. Arunima Nair, Adv.; Ms. Madhusruthi Neelakantan, Adv.
Respondent(s): Mr. S.V. Raju, A.S.G.; Mr. B.K. Satija, A.A.G.; Mr. Samar Vijay Singh, AOR.