SC Closes High Court Proceedings Against Minister Vijay Shah in Col Qureshi Remarks Case

Col Qureshi Remarks Case: The Supreme Court has brought an end to the proceedings in the Madhya Pradesh High Court against state Tribal Affairs Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah over his controversial remarks targeting Colonel Sofia Qureshi, a senior Army officer and spokesperson for ‘Operation Sindoor’. A Bench headed by Justice Surya Kant emphasized that no parallel proceedings should continue, instructing the High Court to close the case in view of the apex court’s ongoing handling of the matter.

This decision came alongside the continuation of interim protection granted to Shah. The Supreme Court’s May 19 order, which stayed the minister’s arrest and directed him to cooperate with the investigation, remains in effect until further notice.

Earlier, the Supreme Court had dismissed Shah’s apology and directed the Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by an Inspector General of Police. The SIT was tasked with probing the minister’s inflammatory comments, which had stirred public outrage and prompted strong reactions from across the political spectrum.

On Wednesday, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state government, informed the court that the SIT has been formed and is actively investigating the matter. He reported that the SIT had already seized the mobile phone used by Shah and obtained a script of his controversial speech. In addition, the team has begun recording witness statements. Acknowledging the early stage of the probe, Mehta requested additional time for the SIT to complete its investigation.

The controversy began after Shah, a senior BJP leader in Madhya Pradesh, made highly objectionable remarks during a public event in Ramkunda village near Indore. In his speech, Shah appeared to question the integrity of Col Sofia Qureshi by linking her to terrorism, a comment widely condemned as both inflammatory and baseless. The opposition Congress party immediately demanded his resignation.

Following backlash, Shah offered a conditional apology, saying he would apologize “ten times” if his words had hurt anyone. He also claimed to respect Col Qureshi more than his own sister. However, the Supreme Court was unconvinced, with the Bench observing that Shah, being a public figure, should have exercised restraint and responsibility in his speech.

The apex court had sharply rebuked Shah on May 19, stating, “You are a seasoned politician. You should weigh your words. The media may not have gone into the depths of your speech, but you were almost at the point of using extremely filthy language. This is an important issue concerning our Armed Forces. Responsibility in such matters is non-negotiable.”

The controversy had already drawn judicial scrutiny before the Supreme Court intervened. On May 14, the Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered the registration of an FIR against Shah, labeling his remarks as “dangerous” and delivered in the “language of the gutters.” The court had observed that the comments had the potential to incite religious hatred and enmity, particularly given the sensitivity around national defense matters and communal harmony.

As the SIT continues its investigation, the Supreme Court is expected to take up the case again after the summer break, once a new status report is submitted. Until then, the minister remains under scrutiny, and the legal proceedings will closely follow the outcome of the SIT’s inquiry.