What Are Col Sofiya Qureshi's Remarks That Led SC to Order SIT Formation?

New Delhi, May 19 (NationPress) The Supreme Court has mandated the establishment of a special investigation team (SIT) to investigate allegations against Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah, who is currently under scrutiny for his contentious remarks regarding Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.

In a modest reprieve for the minister, a bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N.K. Singh has put his arrest on hold while directing him to participate in the investigation.

The bench, led by Justice Surya Kant, was not swayed by Shah’s apology, categorically dismissing it.

"He must face consequences. Let the law take its own course," the bench asserted.

Vijay Shah has filed a plea in the Supreme Court challenging an order from the Madhya Pradesh High Court that demanded the registration of an FIR against him due to his offensive comments.

On Friday, due to time constraints, the Justice Kant-led Bench was unable to hear Shah’s special leave petition (SLP), and upon the petitioner’s request, has scheduled the matter for discussion on the following Monday.

Just a day prior, when Shah's attorney requested an urgent hearing for his SLP, Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai criticized the minister for his inappropriate comments.

"What kind of statement are you (Shah) making? A person in a constitutional position should display a certain level of restraint. Every statement made by a minister needs to be responsible," the bench remarked.

Senior advocate Vibha Dutta Makhija, representing Shah, contended that the media exaggerated the minister's statements and pointed out that he had already issued an apology.

Makhija requested an interim order to prevent any coercive action against Shah regarding the FIR lodged 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 case on May 16, advising the senior counsel to inform the Madhya Pradesh High Court about the SLP's listing.

On May 14, the Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered the Director General of Police to file a criminal case against Shah within four hours, warning of contempt actions if there was any delay.

A bench consisting of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Anuradha Shukla of the MP High Court stated that there appeared to be a prima facie case of promoting enmity among different castes, religions, and languages.

The Justice Sreedharan-led Bench expressed that referring to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi as a "sister of terrorists" constitutes an offense that hurts the sentiments of the Muslim community.

Regarding Operation Sindoor, Shah allegedly stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had dispatched a "sister from the same community" as those in Pakistan to retaliate for the April 22 terror incident in Kashmir's Pahalgam. "PM Modi is striving for society. Those who left our daughters widowed (in Pahalgam), we sent a sister of their own to teach them a lesson," Shah allegedly remarked.

The offensive comments directed at Colonel Qureshi, who provided media briefings during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, triggered widespread national outrage. Following the uproar, the Minister apologized sincerely, expressing his respect for the armed forces and referring to Colonel Qureshi as "sister."

"I, Vijay Shah, am not only ashamed and saddened by my recent statement, which has hurt the sentiments of every community, but I also apologize from the bottom of my heart. Our country's sister Sofiya Qureshi ji has worked above caste and society while fulfilling her national duty," he stated in a video message shared on the social media platform X. In his petition to the Supreme Court, Shah is seeking the quashing of the FIR as well as the suo motu proceedings initiated by the Madhya Pradesh High Court.