Bhopal: Following the Supreme Court on Monday, Madhya Pradesh DGP Kailash Makwana formed a three-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe state minister Vijay Sharma's controversial remark on Colonel Sofia Qureshi and asked to submit a report by May 28.
The SIT team includes Sagar Zone IG Pramod Verma, SAF DIG Kalyan Chakraborty and Dindori SP Vahini Singh.
A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh wondered if the apology tendered by the minister was "crocodile tears or an attempt to wriggle out of the legal proceedings".
मैं सुप्रीम कोर्ट के निर्णय का स्वागत करता हूं! सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने भी शाह के बयान को 'अयोग्य' मानकर अपने फैसले सुनाए, मगर भाजपा अब भी इसे 'योग्य' मानती है और तभी अब तक मौन है। पूरा देश इस बयान की निंदा कर रहा मगर भाजपा फिर भी कोई कार्रवाई नहीं कर रही।
— MP Congress (@INCMP) May 19, 2025
: श्री उमंग सिंघार जी, नेता… pic.twitter.com/7iVrnX02CO
The bench said the entire nation was in shame due to his comments. "What kind of apology was this? You should have simply admitted your mistake and apologised, but you say if you have said this and that…then I apologise. This is not the way to seek an apology. The kind of crass comments you made, you should be ashamed," the Supreme Court said.
Shah had kicked up a major row after he purportedly termed Colonel Quereshi, the face of media briefings on Operation Sindoor, a 'sister of terrorists', during his public speech.
The bench asked what prevented the minister from making a sincere attempt? "We don't require your apology. We know how to deal with it as per the law", it added.
कर्नल सोफिया कुरैशी पर विवादित बयान देने वाले मप्र के मंत्री कुंवर विजय शाह की माफी सुप्रीम कोर्ट ने भी नामंजूर कर दी है!
— Jitendra (Jitu) Patwari (@jitupatwari) May 19, 2025
शीर्ष न्यायालय ने कहा कि, 'कभी-कभी माफी बचने के लिए मांगी जाती है, तो कभी-कभी ये मगरमच्छ के आंसू जैसी होती है!'
कोर्ट ने फटकारा/कहा, 'आप लोगों के सामने पूरी…
The bench also asked the state government what action had been taken so far in this case, and enquired of the police about the status of the case.
The controversial remarks not only invited wide-scale condemnation from various sections of society and the Opposition, but also led to the registration of an FIR against the minister on the orders of the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
The High Court reprimanded Shah for passing "scurrilous" remarks and using "language of the gutters" against Colonel Qureshi and ordered police to file an FIR against him on the charge of promoting enmity and hatred. After drawing severe condemnation, Shah expressed regret and said he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his sister.
The Congress on Monday renewed its demand for Shah's resignation and said whatever "tricks" the Mohan Yadav government has adopted to save Shah have failed. "This decision makes it clear that the arrogance of power and dictatorial attitude cannot stand in front of the law and the Constitution," Madhya Pradesh Congress president Jitu Patwari said.
He alleged that the crass remarks by Shah raise serious questions about the "character and face of the Bharatiya Janata Party".
Opposition leader Umang Singhar said, "I welcome the Supreme Court's decision! The Supreme Court has also deemed Shah's statement 'unfit' and delivered its verdict, yet the BJP still considers it 'fit' and has remained silent so far. The entire country is condemning this statement, but the BJP is still not taking any action."
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