'Testing Our Patience': Supreme Court Slams BJP Minister Vijay Shah For 'Online' Apology Over Colonel Sofiya Qureshi Remarks

The Supreme Court today rebuked BJP Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for failing to tender proper apology following his "sister of terrorists" remark against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.

"What do you mean by apology like this? This man has been testing our patience...this was the statement he made on the first date...where is it on record? That (online apology) shows his intentions, that makes us more suspicious of his bonafides..." said Justice Surya Kant to Shah's counsel.

A bench of Justices Kant and Joymalya Bagchi was dealing with two petitions filed by Shah: one, challenging Madhya Pradesh High Court's suo motu order for registration of an FIR against him over his reference to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi as a "sister of terrorists"; second, against the High Court order of May 15, where the bench concerned expressed dissatisfaction with the FIR registered against Shah and said that it would monitor the investigation to ensure it takes place fairly.

Senior Advocate K Parmeswar appeared for Shah and apprised the Court that Shah was cooperating with the investigation being conducted by a Special Investigation Team constituted in terms of the Court's order. Pursuant to what fell from the Court, the senior counsel added that the apology would be placed on record by Monday.

When he mentioned that the SIT has recorded Shah's statement, Justice Kant questioned an SIT member present in Court about the significance of recording Shah's statement instead of those who were victimized or hurt.

"What is so significant to record his statement? Statement of those who have been victimized should have been recorded" said the judge. Subsequently, the bench queried the SIT member about the time period required to complete the investigation.

On this, the SIT member said that the investigation would be completed within the statutory limit of 90 days, which are set to expire on August 13. He also apprised that the SIT has recorded statements of 27 persons and examined certain video clips. As such, the bench listed the matter on August 18.

"[The SIT member] submits that SIT would now analyze the material gathered and take investigation to a logical conclusion before expiry of statutory limit of 90 days (to expire on August 13). One of the members of SIT should remain present with status report", it ordered.

Another petition filed by Congress Leader Dr Jaya Thakur seeking Shah's removal from ministerial position was also listed before the Court. Although the same was dismissed, with liberty to the petitioner to approach the appropriate forum, the Court asked the SIT to look into the incidents highlighted in the petition and give a comprehensive report dealing with the same.

Earlier, the Court had constituted a Special Investigation Team comprising 3 senior IPS officers, not belonging to the State of Madhya Pradesh, to investigate the FIR against Shah. The Court had also stayed Shah's arrest, subject to the condition that he should join and cooperate with the investigation fully. Though the bench said that it did not wish to monitor the investigation, it had asked the SIT to submit a status report on the outcome.

In the said hearing, the Court had chastised Vijay Shah for his remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, which were termed as "filthy, crass and shameful", and rejected the public apology offered by him as insincere. Noting that in his "apology video", Shah did not concede to having hurt public sentiments, Justice Kant had suggested that he introspect on how to redeem himself.

On May 28, having taken cognizance of the case itself, the Supreme Court asked the MP High Court to close the proceedings pending before it. During this hearing, SG Tushar Mehta informed that an SIT comprising 3 officers had been constituted to probe Shah's case and the investigation was under way. Giving further time for filing of a status report, the Court continued the interim protection from arrest granted to Shah.

Background

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi 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.

However, Vijay Shah courted controversy by saying at an event, "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].

On May 14, the Madhya Pradesh High Court passed suo motu directions for registration of an FIR against Shah. As a result, the MP police booked him under Sections 152, 196(1)(b), and 197(1)(c) of BNS. Challenging the High Court order, Shah approached the Supreme Court.

At 09:34 PM on May 14 (when the FIR was registered), he posted a video on his official 'X' account, issuing a public apology for his remarks. In the said video, he called Colonel Qureshi 'Nation's sister'.

On May 15, the High Court expressed dissatisfaction with the FIR registered against Shah and said that it would monitor the investigation to ensure it takes place fairly. Against this order, Shah filed another petition before the Supreme Court.

On May 19, the Supreme Court stayed Shah's arrest and constituted an SIT to probe the FIR against him.

Case Title: KUNWAR VIJAY SHAH Versus THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH AND ORS., Diary No. 27093-2025 (and connected case) 

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