The Supreme Court rejected Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah’s apology for his derogatory remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, calling it insincere and an attempt to “wriggle out of legal consequences.
” The Supreme Court described his comments as “shameful,” “crass,” and “thoughtless,” emphasizing that as a public figure, Shah should have exercised restraint. It ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT), led by a woman officer, to probe the FIR filed against him, with a report due by May 28, 2025. The court stayed Shah’s arrest but directed him to cooperate with the investigation.
As of May 19, 2025, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the derogatory remarks made by Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi is still in its early stages, and no detailed findings have been publicly reported.
The Supreme Court ordered the formation of the SIT on May 19, 2025, to investigate the First Information Report (FIR) filed against Shah.
Here’s a summary of the current status based on available information:
SIT Formation: The Supreme Court directed the Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) to constitute a three-member SIT by 10 AM on May 20, 2025. The team must consist of senior, directly recruited Indian Police Service (IPS) officers of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, with at least one woman officer of Superintendent of Police (SP) rank or higher, and none of the members should be from Madhya Pradesh. The SIT is to be headed by an officer of Inspector General (IG) rank or above.
Investigation Timeline: The Supreme Court has mandated that the SIT submit its first status report by May 28, 2025, when the matter is scheduled for further hearing. This indicates that the investigation is ongoing, and no concrete findings have been released as of the current date.
Context of the Probe: The SIT was formed to investigate Shah’s inflammatory remarks made on May 12, 2025, during a public event near Mhow, where he referred to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who briefed the media on Operation Sindoor, in a derogatory manner, implying she was a “sister” of terrorists sent to take revenge.
The remarks sparked widespread outrage, leading to an FIR under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 152 (endangering sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India), 196(1)(b) (promoting enmity between groups), and 197(1)(c) (outraging modesty of a woman). The Supreme Court rejected Shah’s apology, calling it insincere and a “facade” to evade legal consequences, and described his comments as a “national embarrassment.
”Court Oversight: The Supreme Court has emphasized close monitoring of the investigation, describing it as a “litmus test” for the Madhya Pradesh government. The court also stayed Shah’s arrest pending the SIT’s report but directed him to fully cooperate with the investigation. Additionally, the Madhya Pradesh High Court had previously criticized the initial FIR as “poorly drafted” and lacking specific details of the offense, leading to judicial oversight of the probe.
Lack of Public Findings: Since the SIT was only recently constituted, no specific findings or progress reports are available in the public domain as of May 19, 2025. The investigation is expected to gather evidence, including Shah’s viral speech, and assess the applicability of the charges. The Indore Rural Superintendent of Police, Hitika Vasal, noted on May 15, 2025, that the probe had begun but could not be completed immediately, as evidence collection was ongoing.
Political and Public Reaction: The controversy has fueled political debates, with the Congress party staging protests demanding Shah’s dismissal and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) issuing a warning to Shah but stopping short of removing him from his ministerial post. The Supreme Court has cautioned against politicizing the issue, focusing on ensuring a fair investigation.
Given the recency of the SIT’s formation, detailed findings are not yet available, and the investigation is ongoing.
The first status report, due by May 28, 2025, may provide initial insights into the probe’s progress. For updates, you may need to follow credible news sources or court proceedings closer to the reporting date.
The First Information Report (FIR) against Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah was filed on May 14, 2025, at the Manpur Police Station in Indore district, following a directive from the Madhya Pradesh High Court.
The FIR was registered under sections 152, 196(1)(b), and 197(1)(c) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in response to Shah’s derogatory remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi during a public event on May 12, 2025, in Raikunda village, Mhow, Indore.
Below is a summary of the key details regarding the FIR, as a verbatim copy of the document is not publicly available in the sources accessed:
FIR Details:
Date and Place: Registered on May 14, 2025, at Manpur Police Station, Indore (Rural), Madhya Pradesh.
Sections of Law:
Section 152: Addresses acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India, punishable by life imprisonment or a fine.
Section 196(1)(b): Covers acts promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., likely to cause a breach of public peace.
Section 197(1)(c): Pertains to statements targeting a member of a community that adversely affect communal harmony, specifically outraging the modesty of a woman in this context.
Incident: The FIR stems from Shah’s remarks during a public speech where he referred to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who briefed the media on Operation Sindoor, as the “sister” of terrorists, implying a communal link to those responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack. The court noted the remarks as “disparaging,” “dangerous,” and “language of the gutters,” targeting both Qureshi and the Indian armed forces.
Court Observations: The Madhya Pradesh High Court criticized the initial FIR as “poorly drafted” and lacking specific details of the offense, such as the exact content of Shah’s viral speech. The court noted that the FIR was written in a manner that could be vulnerable to being quashed, describing it as a “gross subterfuge” by the state.
The bench, comprising Justices Atul Sreedharan and Anuradha Shukla, ordered the police to include comprehensive details and ensure a fair investigation, with the court monitoring the probe.
Current Status: The Supreme Court, on May 19, 2025, ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the case, rejecting Shah’s apology as insincere. The SIT, to be led by an Inspector General-rank officer and including a woman officer, is tasked with submitting a report by May 28, 2025. Shah’s arrest has been stayed, but he must cooperate with the investigation.
Challenges in Accessing the FIR: A verbatim copy of the FIR is not publicly available in the sources reviewed, as FIRs are typically internal police documents not routinely released unless shared by authorities or obtained through legal processes (e.g., Right to Information Act or court proceedings). The Madhya Pradesh High Court’s critique suggests the FIR lacks specific details, which may complicate its public disclosure until revised or supplemented by the SIT’s findings.
Additional Context: A separate FIR was ordered by the Karnataka government in Belagavi, where Colonel Qureshi’s in-laws reside, but as of May 16, 2025, it had not been registered. This indicates multiple legal actions against Shah, though the Indore FIR remains the primary one under Supreme Court scrutiny.
If you seek the exact text of the FIR, you may need to:
File a request under the Right to Information (RTI) Act with the Manpur Police Station or Indore Rural Police.
Monitor court proceedings or media reports around May 28, 2025, when the SIT submits its report, as it may include or reference the FIR’s content.