“Where is the apology?”, SC miffed over Minister Vijay Shah’s online apology
The Supreme Court today rapped Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for issuing an online apology for his comments made on Col. Sofia Qureshi.
"Where is the apology?", a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Joymalya Bagchi asked after the minister's counsel for not issuing a public apology for his alleged defamatory remarks. The bench went on to observe that the minister was testing its patience as his conduct was making the court doubt his intentions and bonafides.
Notably, the SIT formed to investigate the controversial remarks made by Shah informed the Supreme Court today that 27 persons have given their statements.
"The SIT member present before us submits that the material gathered will now be analysed and the investigation will be taken to logical conclusion within the prescribed period of 90 days. The matter to now be taken up on August 18. Status report to be filed", Court accordingly ordered.
Recently, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta had informed court that a Special Investigation Team (SIT) had already been constituted and that the investigation was currently underway.
BJP leader Kunwar Vijay Shah approached the Supreme Court challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s suo motu order directing registration of an FIR against him for his controversial remarks referring to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi as a “sister of terrorists.”
Earlier, the Supreme Court had issued notice to the State of Madhya Pradesh and ordered the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the FIR. The Court had also stayed Shah’s arrest, directing him to cooperate fully with the SIT.
Supreme Court had also directed the Madhya Pradesh High Court to close any parallel proceedings in the matter, noting that the Apex Court had already taken cognizance. Jabalpur Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of Shah’s comments in May; made during a public event in Mhow, where he referred to Col. Qureshi in communal and sexist terms, implying she was sent as “revenge” against terrorists.
High Court described the remarks as "dangerous," "disparaging," and using "language of the gutters," observing they amounted to prima facie offences under stringent criminal provisions. It further said such statements stigmatize the Muslim community and threaten constitutional values of unity and fraternity.
Case Title: Kunwar Vijay Shah vs. The High Court of Madhya Pradesh
Hearing Date: July 28, 2025
Bench: Justices Kant and Bagchi