Supreme Court questions bonafides of MP minister Kunwar Vijay Shah in case over remarks on Col. Sofiya Qureshi

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the bona fides of Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, who has been accused of making derogatory comments about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, one of the Indian Army officers who had held media briefings during Operation Sindoor.

A Bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi was irked by the fact that the minister had not issued a proper public apology as directed earlier.

This was after Shah's counsel told the Court that he has tendered an 'online' apology.

The Court said that Shah was testing its patience and demanded the counsel for Shah to submit his public apology.

"My Statement has been recorded," Shah's counsel said.

"What do you mean by statement gas been recorded. This man is testing our patience. Where is his public apology?" the Bench demanded.

"It is available online," the counsel for Shah submitted.

"That shows his intentions. That makes us more suspicious of his bonafides. What is so significant to record his statement? Statement of those who have been victimized should have been recorded," the Court stated.

The Bench was hearing a plea filed by Shah against an order of the Madhya Pradesh High Court which had directed registration of a criminal case against him.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Supreme Court to probe allegations against Shah, handed over a sealed envelope informing the Bench about the progress of the probe.

In its order, the Bench noted that statements of 27 persons have been recorded, video clips have been examined and the SIT would conclude the investigation before the expiry of the statutory 90-day limit, which expires on August 13.

Therefore, the Court listed the case for further consideration on August 18 and ordered the SIT member to be present.

Shah triggered a political storm after he reportedly said,

“Those who widowed our daughters, we sent a sister of their own to teach them a lesson.”

He made the statement during a public event in Raikunda village, located in Ambedkar Nagar (Mhow). The comment was seen as a reference to Qureshi, one of the officers who had briefed the media after India’s cross-border Operation Sindoor against Pakistan.

His remarks drew intense backlash, with calls for his removal from office. On May 14, the Madhya Pradesh High Court took suo motu cognisance of the matter and directed registration of a criminal case against him. Shah then approached the Supreme Court.

On May 19, the Supreme Court granted him interim protection from arrest but strongly criticised him.

“The entire nation is ashamed of you. It is up to you how you redeem yourself,” the Court said.