Madhya Pradesh Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah has challenged in the Supreme Court the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s order directing the registration of an FIR against him for his contentious comments about Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.
In suo motu proceedings on Wednesday, the MP High Court instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to file a criminal case against Shah under Sections 152, 196(1)(b), and 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) within four hours.
The court also warned of contempt action if the order was not followed promptly.
A bench comprising Justices Atul Sreedharan and Anuradha Shukla stated that Shah’s remarks prima facie amounted to promoting enmity among different castes, religions, and languages.
The bench, led by Justice Sreedharan, noted that calling Colonel Sofiya Qureshi a ‘sister of terrorists’ was an offence that hurt the sentiments of the Muslim community.
Shah’s controversial statement came during comments on Operation Sindoor, where he said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent a ‘sister from the same community’ as those in Pakistan to avenge the terror attack in Kashmir’s Pahalgam on 22 April.
“PM Modi is striving for the society. Those who widowed our daughters (in Pahalgam), we sent a sister of their own to teach them a lesson,” Shah had remarked.
Nationwide Outrage & Apology
The remarks targeting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who led media briefings during Operation Sindoor, triggered widespread outrage across the country.
Following the backlash, Shah issued a heartfelt apology, expressing respect for the armed forces and referring to Colonel Sofiya as ‘sister’.
In a video posted on the social media platform X, he said, “I, Vijay Shah, am not only ashamed and saddened by my recent statement, which has hurt the sentiments of every community, but I also apologise from the bottom of my heart. Our country’s sister Sofia Qureshi ji has worked rising above caste and society while fulfilling her national duty.”
मैं विजय शाह, हाल ही में मेरे दिए गए बयान से, जो हर समाज की भावनाएँ आहत हुई हैं, उसके लिए मैं दिल से न केवल शर्मिंदा हूँ, दुखी हूँ, बल्कि माफ़ी चाहता हूँ।
हमारे देश की बहन सोफिया कुरैशी जी ने राष्ट्र धर्म निभाते हुए जाति और समाज से ऊपर उठकर, उन्होंने काम किया है। pic.twitter.com/0qhO895ahl
— Dr. Kunwar Vijay Shah (@KrVijayShah) May 14, 2025
In his petition before the Supreme Court, Shah has requested the quashing of the FIR and the suo motu proceedings initiated by the MP High Court.
Also Read: BJP Organises Tiranga Yatra In Ayodhya To Celebrate Operation Sindoor & Honour Armed Forces
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