The Supreme Court on Friday expressed strong disapproval of Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah's controversial remarks linking Colonel Sofiya Qureshi to 'Operation Sindoor', refusing to condone his actions and directing the state government to decide on the Special Investigation Team's (SIT) request for sanction to prosecute him.
Court's Observations
A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi termed the statement as 'most unfortunate' and noted that the minister appeared to have no sense of repentance. The court observed that this was not an isolated incident, as the SIT had indicated other instances of similar obnoxious remarks by Shah.
Government's Stand
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta filed a status report, arguing that Shah intended to praise Colonel Qureshi but failed to articulate his words properly, leading to an unintended meaning. However, the bench countered that political personalities are usually articulate and convey their intended meaning accurately.
Defense Argument
Shah's counsel, Maninder Singh, highlighted that the minister had apologized within 24 hours after realizing the statement was being misinterpreted. Despite this, the court remained unconvinced and asked the SIT to investigate other instances of similar remarks made by the minister.
The case stems from a controversy that erupted over a year ago when Shah made the remarks, which were widely condemned as inappropriate and disrespectful to the armed forces.
