Supreme Court Orders SIT Investigation into MP Minister's Controversial Remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi

Supreme Court's Directive on Investigation
New Delhi: On Monday, the Supreme Court mandated the establishment of a special investigation team (SIT) to look into allegations against Madhya Pradesh's Tribal Affairs Minister, Vijay Shah, who is under scrutiny for his inflammatory comments regarding Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.
In a slight reprieve for the minister, Justices Surya Kant and NK Singh of the Supreme Court have temporarily halted his arrest, instructing him to cooperate with the investigation.
The bench, led by Justice Surya Kant, dismissed Shah's apology, stating, "He must face consequences. Let law take its own course."
Shah has approached the Supreme Court to contest a Madhya Pradesh High Court ruling that mandated the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against him due to his offensive remarks.
Due to time constraints on Friday, the bench could not address Shah's special leave petition (SLP) but agreed to hear it on Monday at the request of the petitioner.
Previously, when Shah's attorney sought urgent consideration of the SLP, a bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai criticized the minister for his inappropriate comments.
"What kind of statement are you making? A person in a constitutional position should exhibit restraint. Every statement from a minister must be made responsibly," the bench remarked.
In response, senior advocate Vibha Dutta Makhija, representing Shah, argued that the media exaggerated the minister's statements and noted that he had already issued an apology.
Makhija requested an interim order to prevent any coercive actions against Shah regarding the FIR filed under Sections 152, 196(1)(b), and 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Without issuing an interim order, the CJI Gavai-led bench agreed to hear the matter on May 16 and advised Makhija to inform the Madhya Pradesh High Court about the SLP's listing.
On May 14, the Madhya Pradesh High Court directed the Director General of Police to file a criminal case against Shah within four hours, warning of contempt proceedings for any delays.
The bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Anuradha Shukla noted that there was sufficient evidence to suggest Shah's comments promoted enmity among different castes, religions, and languages.
The bench expressed that referring to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi as a "sister of terrorists" constituted an offense that could hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community.
In discussing Operation Sindoor, Shah allegedly stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent a "sister from the same community" as those in Pakistan to retaliate for the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir. He remarked, "PM Modi is striving for society. Those who caused our daughters to be widowed (in Pahalgam), we sent a sister of their own to teach them a lesson."
Shah's derogatory remarks about Colonel Qureshi, who played a key role in Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, ignited widespread outrage across the nation. Following the backlash, the minister expressed his heartfelt apology, emphasizing his respect for the armed forces and referring to Colonel Qureshi as a "sister."
"I, Vijay Shah, am deeply ashamed and saddened by my recent statement, which has offended many. I sincerely apologize. Our nation's sister, Sofiya Qureshi ji, has served above caste and societal lines while fulfilling her duty," he stated in a video message shared on social media.
In his petition to the Supreme Court, Shah is seeking to annul the FIR and the suo motu proceedings initiated by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.