'Don't Want Publicity Litigation': Supreme Court Rejects Plea Seeking Govt Action Against Vijay Shah For Remarks On Colonel Sofiya Qureshi

The Supreme Court today (May 15) refused to entertain a plea which sought directions to the Union and Madhya Pradesh Governments to take adverse action against BJP Minister Vijay Shah for his comments on Col. Sophiya Qureshi

The advocate mentioned that he has filed a letter petition seeking directions " to be given to the state or union government to take action against this kind of person." 

The bench of CJI BR Gavai and Justice AG Masih refused to entertain the letter petition, considering that the matter is already being heard by the Madhya Pradesh High Court. 

While dismissing the plea, the CJI remarked that such pleas were only being filed for publicity. He opined:  "We don't want this publicity litigation, that's all. Anybody who reads an item in the newspaper wants to file a plea."

"High Court has already taken cognisance, don't file petitions only for the front pages," the judge added.

Earlier today, the bench refused interim intervention in the FIR lodged against the BJP Minister. This was after Shah filed a petition in the Apex Court challenging the order of the High Court directing registration of an FIR against him. 

In a parallel hearing today by the Madhya Pradesh High Court, the bench ordered that it shall monitor the Police's investigation in the matter, to ensure it happens fairly.

Notably, Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh had become the face of the 'Operation Sindoor' after she gave press briefings about the military operations carried out by the Indian Air Force against Pakistani terrorist sites.

Shah, in a recent statement, called Qureshi as the 'Sister of Terrorists'. He courted controversy by saying, "Jinhone humari betiyon ke sindoor ujade the… humne unhiki behen bhej kar ke unki aisi ki taisi karwayi" [Translation: Those people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters (in the Pahalgam terror attack)... we avenged these people by sending their sister to destroy them."

He later posted a video on his X account, publicly apologising for his remarks.