SC orders SIT to probe minister’s remarks on Col Qureshi; stays arrest
text_fields
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the allegations against Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah, who has come under legal scrutiny over controversial remarks made about Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.
While granting partial relief, the Bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh stayed Shah’s arrest and directed him to cooperate fully with the investigation. The court, however, dismissed Shah’s apology, stating, “He must face consequences. Let the law take its own course.”
The Minister had moved the apex court challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s directive to register a First Information Report (FIR) against him. The matter was originally scheduled for hearing on Friday but was deferred due to time constraints and taken up on Monday as per the court’s order.
Earlier, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai had sharply criticised Shah's remarks when his legal team sought urgent listing of the Special Leave Petition (SLP). The CJI remarked, “What sort of statement are you making? A person holding a constitutional office is expected to exercise a degree of restraint. Every sentence uttered by a minister has to be with responsibility.”
Responding to this, senior advocate Vibha Dutta Makhija, appearing for Shah, claimed that the media had overblown the remarks and reiterated that Shah had issued a sincere apology. She also requested an interim order barring any coercive action under the FIR, registered under Sections 152, 196(1)(b), and 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Although the CJI-led Bench did not pass any interim relief at that time, it scheduled the hearing for May 16 and advised Shah’s counsel to inform the High Court about the pending proceedings before the Supreme Court.
On May 14, the Madhya Pradesh High Court had ordered the state’s Director General of Police to register a criminal case against Shah within four hours, warning of contempt proceedings for any delay. The Bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Anuradha Shukla held that Shah’s remarks prima facie constituted an offence under laws pertaining to promotion of enmity on the basis of caste, religion, or language.
The High Court took strong objection to Shah’s comment describing Colonel Sofiya Qureshi as a "sister of terrorists," calling it an insult to the sentiments and faith of the Muslim community.
Shah had made the controversial remarks while speaking about Operation Sindoor, an anti-terror operation in Kashmir’s Pahalgam. Referring to Colonel Qureshi’s role, he had reportedly stated, “Prime Minister Narendra Modi sent a sister from the same community as those in Pakistan to avenge the attack... Those who widowed our daughters, we sent a sister of their own to teach them a lesson.”
Colonel Qureshi, an Indian Army officer who briefed the media throughout Operation Sindoor, became a national figure during the campaign. The Minister's remarks drew widespread condemnation, prompting him to issue a public apology.
In a video posted on social media platform X, Shah stated, “I, Vijay Shah, am not only ashamed and saddened by my recent statement, which has hurt the sentiments of every community, but I also apologise from the bottom of my heart. Our country’s sister Sofiya Qureshi ji has worked rising above caste and society while fulfilling her national duty.”
Shah’s petition before the Supreme Court seeks quashing of both the FIR and the suo motu criminal proceedings initiated by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
With IANS inputs
