The Madhya Pradesh High Court has expressed strong dissatisfaction with the manner in which the State Police filed an FIR against BJP Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his inflammatory remarks targeting Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.
The court announced it will monitor the investigation to ensure fairness and independence, citing concerns over possible political influence, Live Law reported.
The controversy erupted after Shah, during a May 12 public event in Raikunda, made a statement implying that Col Qureshi, who led the Air Force’s Operation Sindoor, was akin to a “sister of terrorists.” The comment, widely condemned, was seen as communal and derogatory towards the Armed Forces as a whole.
Taking suo motu cognisance, Justice Atul Sreedharan directed the Director General of Police to register an FIR within four hours under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The FIR was subsequently filed under Sections 152 (acts endangering sovereignty), 196(1)(b) (promoting enmity), and 197(1)(c) (offences against national integration).
However, during the May 15 hearing, the court criticized the content of the FIR, calling it “drafted in a way to be quashed” and lacking the necessary legal ingredients. Justice Sreedharan warned of possible contempt proceedings if orders were not fully enforced, stating, “The court will not be embarrassed in ensuring the enforcement of its order.”
The bench remarked that Shah’s comments had the potential to incite communal discord and insulted the integrity of the Armed Forces. It noted that Col Qureshi was targeted “only because she belongs to the Muslim faith,” despite her selfless service.
The minister, facing mounting political pressure and public outrage, issued a video apology on his official X account late Wednesday, referring to Col Qureshi as “the Nation’s sister.” The Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister’s Office also confirmed that instructions had been issued to act on the High Court’s order.
The incident has sparked nationwide criticism, with opposition leaders slamming Shah’s remarks as dangerous and divisive. Congress leader Jairam Ramesh condemned the “deafening silence” of the Prime Minister, while state-level Congress members filed multiple police complaints across Madhya Pradesh.
