Is the Supreme Court Testing Vijay Shah's Patience in Colonel Sofiya Qureshi Remarks Controversy?

New Delhi, July 28 (NationPress) The Supreme Court has criticized Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah for issuing an "online" public apology regarding his contentious remarks about Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who played a key role in briefing the media during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan.

“You are testing our patience! Where is his public apology? This indicates his true intentions and raises our suspicions regarding his credibility,” stated a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi.

The bench, led by Justice Surya Kant, was addressing a special leave petition (SLP) filed by Shah, a BJP MLA from the Harsood Assembly constituency and minister in Chief Minister Mohan Yadav’s cabinet. Shah was challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court's order mandating the registration of an FIR against him for his inappropriate remarks.

During court proceedings, the apex court expressed concerns after learning that the SIT had recorded Shah’s statement but failed to gather testimonies from those impacted by his controversial comments.

Upon inquiring about the investigation's progress, the SIT reported that it anticipates completing its report by August 13. They mentioned having recorded several witness statements and reviewed video evidence.

In light of the SIT’s update, the Supreme Court scheduled the next hearing for August 18 and instructed that a representative from the SIT be present with a status report.

Senior advocate K. Parmeswar, representing Shah, assured the court that a new public apology would be submitted.

Shah had allegedly remarked 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, igniting widespread outrage.

Following the Madhya Pradesh High Court's order on May 14, which directed the state Director General of Police to file an FIR against Shah, he approached the Supreme Court contesting the FIR filed under Sections 152, 196(1)(b), and 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

In a partial reprieve for the minister, the apex court shielded him from any coercive measures, including arrest, provided he cooperated fully with the investigation. The court had ordered the formation of an SIT comprising three senior IPS officers, including a female officer, to investigate the situation.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court declined to entertain a petition from Congress leader Jaya Thakur seeking Vijay Shah’s dismissal from his ministerial role, arguing that he violated the oath under Article 164(3) of the Constitution.