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India Today
a day ago
- Politics
- India Today
Where is your public apology? Top court raps BJP minister over Col Qureshi remarks
The Supreme Court on Monday pulled up Madhya Pradesh Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for failing to issue a proper public apology over his controversial remarks against Operation Sindoor hero Colonel Sofiya a hearing, a bench comprising Justice Suryakant and Justice Joymala Bagchi questioned the minister's intentions and said they were "suspicious of the bonafides" behind Shah's court was particularly angered by the absence of a formal, public apology from the "This man is testing our patience. Where is your public apology?" the bench asked, taking exception to a social media video posted by Shah, which the court said does not qualify as a "proper" bench directed Shah's lawyer to submit full details of the apology and where and how it had been published. It was made clear that the minister must demonstrate genuine remorse in a public and meaningful is currently facing an inquiry by a Special Investigation Team (SIT), which was set up following the court's SIT, in its submission, informed the court that it had recorded statements from 27 people, including journalists, and is now reviewing videos and other materials related to the incident. The team has been given 90 days to complete its probe and has committed to filing the final status report by August the court also criticised the SIT's approach, questioning why Shah's statement was recorded before collecting testimonies from those affected by his comments."What is so significant to record his statement? The statements of those who felt hurt and victimised by his statement — those should have been recorded," remarked the response, the SIT assured the court that victim and witness statements were also part of the investigation and that all relevant material is being analysed before final conclusions are matter has now been adjourned to August 18. The court has directed that one of the three SIT members must be present during the next hearing and submit the status report outlining the outcome of the stirred a row when he, while speaking at a government event in May, said that the Prime Minister had sent a "sister from the same community" as those in Pakistan to avenge the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam. The remark was made with reference to India's Operation Sindoor strikes, which were spearheaded by Qureshi along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, on May case has sparked public outrage and renewed calls for accountability among public figures in their comments regarding the armed forces.- EndsTrending Reel
Hindustan Times
4 days ago
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SIT records MP minister Kunwar Vijay Shah's statement in Colonel Qureshi case
Bhopal: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) has recorded the statement of Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, two months after a case was filed against him for making offensive remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, an Indian Army officer who had briefed the media on Operation Sindoor. Kunwar Vijay Shah, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), made a remark in May that communalised Qureshi's presence at the briefings. His comments sparked public outrage (PTI) A senior police officer, requesting anonymity, said Shah was questioned by the SIT for an hour this week in Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur, and the report will be submitted before the Supreme Court ahead of the next hearing scheduled for July 28. Shah, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), made a remark in May that communalised Qureshi's presence at the briefings. His comments sparked public outrage. Raising questions over the delay in recording the statement, the opposition expressed concerns about the fairness of the probe, especially after Shah was seen sharing the stage with chief minister Mohan Yadav upon the latter's return from a foreign visit on July 20. 'Since May 12, the BJP-led state government has been shielding Shah. A case was registered against him on the order of the MP High Court. The police didn't arrest him for 14 days before the Supreme Court stayed his arrest. SIT didn't record his statement for two months. Now, Shah is sharing the stage with the CM — how can we expect a fair probe report? We are now looking at the apex court with hope for strict action against him,' Congress spokesperson KK Mishra said. Also Read: Operation Sindoor marks combat debut for two women colonels BJP spokesperson Durgesh Keshvani said, 'We can't speculate and comment as the matter is pending before the Supreme Court.' Shah triggered the controversy on May 12 while addressing a programme in Indore, following Operation Sindoor — India's retaliation against Pakistan for the April 22 Pahalgam terror strike. 'Those who widowed our daughters, we sent a sister of their own to teach them a lesson,' he had said. Also Read:As SIT begins probe, MP minister issues fresh apology over Col Sofiya Qureshi remarks Referring to his remarks as a lapse in word choice, Shah had issued an apology — a 45-second video clip and a signed statement — on X. The top court termed the apology 'an insincere attempt to escape accountability' and ordered the state's director general of police (DGP) to constitute the SIT, calling the matter a 'litmus test' for the state government. A three-member SIT, comprising inspector general of police (Sagar zone) Pramod Verma, deputy inspector general of police (special armed force, Bhopal) Kalyan Chakraborty, and superintendent of police (Dindori district) Vahini Singh, was formed to probe further.
Time of India
29-06-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
With National agencies overburdened, Supreme Court opts for 'special' SITs
The Supreme Court established two special investigation teams (SITs) in May to probe FIRs against Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah and Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad. These SITs, composed of IPS officers from outside the respective states, were formed due to concerns about overburdened national agencies and the need for effective investigations. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The Supreme Court constituted two special investigation teams (SITs) in two separate cases in May to investigate FIRs registered against Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his comments against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Ashoka University professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad for his Facebook post on Operation constituting these SITs, SC passed distinct directions. First, it ordered that SIT members will be IPS officers . Second, all the three investigating officers should be from outside the state where the alleged offences were May 19, a bench headed by justice Surya Kant elaborated on the reason for constituting these unique SITs."National investigating agencies are overburdened. Sometimes the delay in investigation frustrates the outcome," justice Kant had remarked, adding that such SITs have delivered "effective" outcomes in the recent observed that in a few cases it might even monitor the investigations so that a case can be taken to its logical conclusion. In both cases, while constituting SITs, the bench made it clear that one of the three members of the SIT must be a woman IPS the case of Shah, SC on May 19 constituted a three-member SIT to investigate the FIR filed by MP Police on the directions of the Madhya Pradesh High Court that had taken suo motu cognisance of Shah's remarks against Colonel Qureshi, calling her a "sister of terrorists".A bench of justices Kant and N Kotiswar Singh had directed Madhya Pradesh DGP to constitute an SIT of three IPS officers of Madhya Pradesh cadre, clarifying that they should be from outside MP. SIT will be headed by an officer not below the rank of inspector general. The other two would be of the rank of Superintendent of Police and above, SC had ordered. It had added that although it would refrain from monitoring a probe, but given the "peculiar facts and circumstances of the case", the SIT was directed to submit the outcome to the case of Mahmudabad, SC on May 21 directed Haryana DGP to constitute an SIT of three IPS officers not belonging to Haryana or Delhi to investigate the allegations. One of the members of SIT, SC ordered, shall be a woman officer.
Hindustan Times
29-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
SC extends its order staying MP minister's arrest, closes HC trial
The Supreme Court on Wednesday extended its interim order staying the arrest of BJP minister Kunwar Vijay Shah in connection with a case registered by the Madhya Pradesh police over his 'sister of terrorists' remark targeting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta also directed the Madhya Pradesh high court to close the suo motu proceedings related to the same case pending before it, since the apex court is now hearing the matter. The court issued the direction after Solicitor General of India, Tushar Mehta, who appeared for the Madhya Pradesh government, informed the bench that in compliance with its earlier order, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising three officers had been constituted to investigate the case against Shah and its probe was currently underway. The court also took on record a status report filed by the Deputy Inspector General of Police, Bhopal, which stated that the SIT had visited the site and begun its investigation on May 21. The report also said that the SIT had seized further material, including a transcript of Shah's speech and some mobile phones, and that it had begun recording statements of witnesses. Since its investigation is still at a preliminary stage, the SIT sought additional time. The court agreed and posted the matter for further hearing after regular hearings resume in mid-July this year. It directed the SIT to continue its probe in the meanwhile and also to submit a fresh status report on the next date of hearing. On May 19 this year, the Supreme Court took exception to Shah's communal comments targetting Colonel Qureshi. It rejected the apology offered by Shah and directed the state police, which had until then dragged its feet over investigating the case despite being ordered to do so by the high court, to constitute the SIT to probe the case against the minister. At the time it restrained the police from arresting Shah until further orders. The court passed the order on a petition filed by Shah against the Madhya Pradesh high court order of May 14 that took suo motu cognisance of his remarks and ordered the police to register a first information report (FIR) against him. The FIR against Shah was filed under sections 152 (an act endangering sovereignty, unity and integrity of India), 196(1) (an act which is prejudicial to maintenance of harmony between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities and which disturbs or is likely to disturb public tranquillity) and 197 (1) (c) (causing disharmony or feelings of enmity) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at the Manpur police station in Indore rural. Shah's case has become especially controversial given the inertia displayed by the police in investigating his clearly communal comments, something that is in stark contrast to the alacrity displayed by the Haryana police in arresting a professor at a private university after his Facebook post was misinterpreted by two BJP members, including the head of the state women's body, who then complained about it.
India Gazette
25-05-2025
- Politics
- India Gazette
MP: Congress leaders hold press conference, demand action against minister Vijay Shah
Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh) [India], May 25 (ANI): In a press conference held in Bhopal, Congress leaders Arun Yadav, former Union Minister, and Arif Masood, Congress MLA, demanded action against Minister Vijay Shah for his comment on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, citing the BJP's inaction on the matter. The Congress leaders demanded a fair and independent investigation into the matter under the supervision of the Supreme Court. 'We reiterate our demand for Vijay Shah's dismissal and a probe under the Supreme Court's supervision,' Arun Yadav said. 'I'm deeply disturbed by the recent statement made by Minister Vijay Shah, a seven-time lawmaker from Khandwa, targeting our brave Army officer Sofia Qureshi. The entire nation is ashamed of his actions, and it's shocking that it's been almost a month since the scandal broke out, yet no action has been taken against him. This raises serious questions about the governments of Madhya Pradesh and India, led by Narendra Modi. My colleague, Arif Masood, will provide more details on this matter,' he added. This comes after Kunwar Vijay Shah stirred a row with his objectionable remark on Colonel Sofia Qureshi, who briefed the media about Operation Sindoor. Speaking at an event, Shah had said, 'Those who widowed our daughters [in Pahalgam], we sent their sister to teach them a lesson.' The state minister later apologised, expressing regret over his remark, 'I am not a God; I'm too human, and I apologise ten times.' The minister further said, 'I am a patriotic man, and people of every community worked for the nation. If something slipped out in anger and someone felt bad, I would like to say that I am not a god but a human being apologise ten times for it.' Earlier, SP Dalit leader Awadhesh Prasad demanded the dismissal of Madhya Pradesh BJP Cabinet Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah from the government over his remarks on Colonel Sofia, calling it an insult to the armed forces and the country's military history. President Ajay Rai too slammed Madhya Pradesh Cabinet Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah over his objectionable remark on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. Calling Kunwar Vijay Shah's remark an insult to women, the army and the people of the country, Ajay Rai requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take action against the MP Cabinet Minister. 'The nation is saddened by Colonel Sofiya Qureshi's insult, who increased the nation's respect. Insult to her is an insult to the women, the army and the people of the country. I request PM Modi to take action against such a leader and suspend him immediately,' Ajay Rai said. (ANI)
