High Court in Punjab and Haryana awards bail to a medical professional, who was detained for disseminating clips satirizing Prime Minister Modi.
In a landmark ruling, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted regular bail to Dr. Mushtaq Ahmed, a 65-year-old doctor who was arrested by the Haryana Police on May 17, 2025, for allegedly sharing edited AI-generated videos mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, and the Indian Army during "Operation Sindoor" amid heightened India-Pakistan tensions.
### Details of the Case:
The videos shared by Dr. Ahmed portrayed Indian leaders and the army in a diminished or subdued light, while showing Pakistani leaders as victorious. This was claimed by the police to be potentially encouraging separatism and endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India, especially sensitive in the aftermath of a terror attack in Pahalgam.
Dr. Ahmed was accused of forwarding the video, but his counsel argued that there was no substantive evidence linking him directly to the commission of the alleged crime. The prosecution had yet to lead evidence proving his involvement, and at the time of bail, no further recovery from him was expected as the investigation was nearly complete.
### Court's Reasoning for Granting Bail:
Justice NS Shekhawat, presiding over the case, noted that Dr. Ahmed had already spent time in custody and as a senior citizen with multiple age-related health issues, he deserved sympathetic consideration. The court ruled that keeping him in custody longer did not serve any useful purpose as the investigation was almost over and nothing further was to be recovered from him.
The High Court balanced the seriousness of the allegations against factors such as the petitioner’s age, health, and the status of the investigation to grant bail.
### Implications:
The bail indicates judicial caution in continuing to detain elderly individuals in cases where investigations are near completion and evidentiary gaps exist. It underscores the tension between freedom of expression and national security concerns, particularly in politically sensitive contexts like India-Pakistan relations.
The case highlights the legal scrutiny around AI-generated content and edited videos in the digital era, demonstrating how courts weigh such evidence in the context of law and individual rights. The decision may set a precedent for similar cases involving alleged sharing of controversial digital content by senior citizens or individuals with health vulnerabilities.
### Court Representatives:
The court was represented by Senior Advocate Bipin Ghai for the accused, while Additional Advocate General Rupinder Singh Jhand appeared for the Haryana State.
In summary, the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted bail primarily on humanitarian grounds and the near completion of investigation, despite the serious nature of the charges related to edited videos that allegedly mocked key Indian leaders and supported Pakistan. The videos were shared when tensions were high between India and Pakistan in the aftermath of the terror attack in Pahalgam.
The Court noted that the investigation is almost complete and further custody of Mushtaq Ahmed will not serve any useful purpose. The accused has argued that he only forwarded the video and there is no evidence connecting him to the commission of the alleged crime. The accused is a senior citizen and suffers from various age-related health issues. The accused in the case is represented by Senior Advocate Bipin Ghai, Nikhil Ghai, and Paras Talwar.
In light of the ongoing investigation nearing completion, a potential legal precedent might be established for similar cases involving controversial digital content sharing, particularly by senior citizens or individuals with health vulnerabilities. Additionally, the ruling may stress the importance of striking a balance between freedom of expression and national security concerns, given the sensitive context of India-Pakistan relations.
