The controversy arose after Minister Shah, speaking in Ramkunda village near Indore, made inflammatory remarks that appeared to communalize Colonel Qureshi’s role in the military’s Operation Sindoor
Published May 14, 2025 | 6:29 PM ⚊ Updated May 14, 2025 | 6:29 PM
FIR against BJP minister for remarks targeting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi (@KrVijayShah and @SofiaQureshii on X)
Synopsis: The Madhya Pradesh High Court on 14 May took suo motu cognisance of BJP Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah’s controversial remarks against Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. The court directed the state DGP to file an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita by evening, warning of contempt proceedings if not done, following Shah’s comments on Operation Sindoor
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Wednesday, 14 May, took suo motu cognisance of controversial remarks made by BJP leader and State Cabinet Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, an Indian Army officer who briefed the media during Operation Sindoor — India’s retaliatory strikes against terrorist infrastructure in Pakistan following the Pahalgam terror attack.
A Bench comprising Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Anuradha Shukla directed the state’s Director General of Police (DGP) to register a First Information Report (FIR) against Shah under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita by Wednesday evening.
The court warned that failure to comply would trigger proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act against the DGP.
“I shall take no excuse. Ensure that it is done. Otherwise, I can assure you — I promise — the State will face extreme embarrassment, and I couldn’t care less,” Justice Sreedharan told the State Advocate General in open court.
The development comes after Minister Shah made inflammatory comments during a public address in Ramkunda village near Indore, appearing to communalize the role of Colonel Qureshi in the military operation.
“Those people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor of our sisters in the Pahalgam terror attack… we avenged them by sending their sister to destroy them,” Shah said, referring to Colonel Qureshi.
“They killed our Hindu brothers. Modiji responded by sending the sister of their community in an Army plane to strike them in their homes. They made our sisters widows, so Modiji sent their sister to strip them and teach them a lesson.”
The comments sparked widespread outrage, with critics accusing the minister of making communal and misogynistic insinuations against a serving officer of the Indian Army.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi had played a key role in briefing the media on Operation Sindoor, launched in response to the recent terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam area.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
