Supreme Court Orders SIT Probe into MP Minister Vijay Shah’s Remarks Against Col. Sofiya Qureshi

New Delhi, May 19, 2025: The Supreme Court of India has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe against Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his derogatory and communal remarks against Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. Rejecting Shah’s written apology, the court labeled it “crocodile tears” and criticized it as an insincere attempt to escape accountability.

A two-judge bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotiswar Singh delivered a scathing rebuke against Shah during Monday’s hearing. “It’s not merely a gender issue or a caste issue—it’s about the dignity of a serving Indian Army officer who represented the military in an official press briefing during Operation Sindoor,” the bench observed.

The court directed the Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) to constitute a three-member SIT by 10 AM on Tuesday, May 21. The SIT must be led by an officer of Inspector General or Director General rank and should include at least one woman officer. All team members are required to be from outside Madhya Pradesh to ensure impartiality.

While the apex court stayed Shah’s arrest for now, it made it clear that he must fully cooperate with the investigation. The SIT has been instructed to submit its initial report to the court by May 28.

The controversy stems from Shah’s remarks made shortly after Colonel Sofiya Qureshi briefed the media about India’s precision strikes on terror camps in Pakistan under Operation Sindoor. Shah had made inflammatory comments targeting her identity, sparking public outrage and drawing condemnation from civil society, military veterans, and political leaders alike.

Justice Surya Kant, during the hearing, remarked: “You are enjoying the privileges of being a minister. You belong to the ruling party. What message are you giving to the country? Do you even understand the constitutional value of the Indian Army’s secular character?”

The court also took serious note of the fact that Shah is a sitting minister, stressing that such statements from high office bearers cannot be brushed aside. “You are mocking the sacrifices made by thousands of uniformed men and women who protect our borders and national interest,” Justice Kant said.

Colonel Qureshi, a decorated officer who was the first woman to lead a mixed-gender contingent in the Republic Day parade, has received widespread support. Her calm yet resolute briefings during Operation Sindoor drew praise for professionalism and clarity.

The Supreme Court’s directive to initiate an SIT probe is being seen as a landmark response, underlining that no public figure is above the law, especially when it comes to the dignity of those serving in uniform.