Supreme Court Raps BJP Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah Over Remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi
The Supreme Court on Thursday rebuked Madhya Pradesh BJP Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah over his remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, refusing to stay an FIR registered against him.
During an urgent hearing, Chief Justice of India BR Gavai expressed disapproval of Shah’s comments, saying, “A person holding constitutional office is expected to act responsibly. What kind of statements is he making?” The court declined to grant interim relief and scheduled the matter for hearing on Friday.
The bench made it clear that ministers, especially during sensitive national situations, must exercise restraint in public remarks. “Every sentence uttered by a person in such a position is heard,” the CJI noted.
The FIR against Shah was filed following a Madhya Pradesh High Court order, which found his statements about Colonel Qureshi “scurrilous” and “language of the gutters.” The court acted suo motu, terming the remark as hate speech.
Shah, in a public event, had commented that the Prime Minister sent “a sister from the same community as those in Pakistan” in response to the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack — a remark widely seen as targeting Colonel Qureshi, who hails from the same community.
Shah approached the Supreme Court on Wednesday night seeking to quash the High Court’s directive, arguing that his statement had been “misinterpreted” and “distorted by media.” His counsel said Shah had “apologised and expressed remorse.”
In a video statement, Shah said, “I am not only ashamed and saddened by my statement but sincerely apologise from the bottom of my heart.”
Despite this, the Supreme Court refused to stay the FIR, saying that public apologies do not negate the legal process, especially when hate speech allegations are involved.
Meanwhile, the Madhya Pradesh High Court also questioned the FIR’s content, stating it lacked material substance to establish a cognisable offence. “This FIR can easily be quashed,” the bench observed, adding, “It was registered last night but the content must be there in the FIR.”
The Advocate General assured the court that the state would act in accordance with legal protocols, but the bench remained unconvinced, remarking that the drafting of the FIR suggested a lack of seriousness.
The controversy has triggered political backlash. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge condemned Shah’s remarks as “insulting, shameful, and vulgar,” and demanded his dismissal from the Cabinet.
