Madhya Pradesh High Court Orders FIR Against BJP Minister Vijay Shah Over Remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has instructed the registration of a first information report against the state's minister, Vijay Shah, because of his remarks made against Colonel Sofia Qureshi.

Colonel Qureshi was holding regular press conferences detailing the 'Operation Sindoor' launched against terrorists by the Indian armed forces alongside India's foreign secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh Shah.

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Tribal affairs minister and Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) leader, Shah, stirred a large controversy to make objectionable statements apparently aimed at Colonel Qureshi, in which he attempted to frame her as a "sister of terrorists".

Taking suo motu cognizance of the statement that caused controversy, the high court's division bench of Justices Atul Shridharan and Anuradha Shukla directed the police to register a first information report (FIR) against the minister.

The court instructed the police department to file such report by 6 pm on Wednesday.

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The division bench said that the court should be informed of the registration of the FIR.

The next hearing on the petition has been set down for 10.30 am on Thursday. The bench is still waiting for a detailed order.

Shah's remarks drew widespread condemnation, with Congress demanding that Shah be dismissed from the cabinet, in the MP cabinet.

Despite severe criticism, Shah said if anyone was hurt by his remarks, he is ready to apologise 10 times and that he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his sister.

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