New Delhi, Jan 19 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Monday directed the State of Madhya Pradesh to take a decision within two weeks on granting sanction to prosecute State Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah in connection with his alleged objectionable remarks targeting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Deepankar Datta and Justice Joymalya Bagchi noted that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the Court has completed its probe and submitted its final report.
The Court observed that further proceedings were stalled as a sanction from the State Government was required to enable the Court to take cognisance of the alleged offence under Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which deals with promotion of communal hatred or ill-will.
The Bench also took note of the SIT’s reference to certain other instances in which Shah is alleged to have made objectionable remarks.
The Court directed the SIT to submit a separate report indicating the action proposed to be taken in respect of those additional instances.
The case arises from remarks made by Shah in the aftermath of “Operation Sindoor,” allegedly directed at Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who had addressed media briefings on behalf of the Indian Army.
Following the remarks, the Madhya Pradesh High Court took suo motu cognisance and ordered registration of an FIR against Shah.
Challenging the High Court’s order, Shah approached the Supreme Court.
While hearing the matter earlier, the Supreme Court had deprecated Shah’s remarks, constituted an SIT to investigate the allegations, and stayed his arrest pending the probe.
During the hearing on Monday, Senior Advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Shah, submitted that the Minister had placed his apology on record and was cooperating with the investigation.
However, the Bench observed that no apology had been filed before the Court.
“It is too late to tender any apology… we had earlier commented on what kind of apology is submitted,” Chief Justice Kant remarked.
The Court had earlier rejected Shah’s public apology, describing it as “crocodile tears” intended to “wriggle out of legal liability,” and had subsequently expressed dissatisfaction with what was described as an “online apology.”
Shah is alleged to have stated at a public meeting that following the Pahalgam terror attack, the country avenged the terrorists by sending the “sister of the terrorists” to destroy them, a remark that led to widespread criticism and legal action.
