Col Qureshi remark: HC to monitor probe; SC slams minister but agrees to hear plea
HC says it was compelled to monitor the probe to ensure that the police investigated the case fairly, without getting influenced by ‘extraneous pressures’
The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday (May 15) said it would monitor the police probe against BJP minister Vijay Shah in the FIR filed against him for his comment calling Col Sofiya Qureshi a “sister of terrorists”, to ensure that it is done fairly.
Also during in the day, the Supreme Court slammed Shah for his remarks, but agreed to hear his plea to stay the FIR against him.
‘Compelled to monitor’
The high court expressed its dissatisfaction with the contents of the FIR lodged by the state police. It said it was compelled to monitor the probe to ensure that the police investigate the case fairly without getting influenced by “extraneous pressures”.
A division bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Anuradha Shukla in its order wrote, “The FIR is brief. However, the briefness of the FIR is not the problem. Having gone through the FIR in its entirety, there is not a single mention of the actions of the suspect which would satisfy the ingredients of offences registered against him.”
Also Read: MP minister used 'language of gutters' against Col Qureshi, says HC; orders FIR
The court in its order went on to say that “the operative portion of para 12 is nothing but a reproduction of the court’s order and does not have a whisper of the earlier part of the order which lays down the action of the suspect and how they constitute an offence under each of the sections mentioned hereinabove”.
The order concluded that the court would monitor the probe without interfering with the independence of the investigating agency but only to the extent that that it acts fairly in accordance with the law without being influenced by extraneous pressures or directions.
The case is scheduled to be listed immediately after vacation.
‘Language of the gutters’
On Wednesday (May 14), while directing the state’s Director General of Police to lodge an FIR, the high court had taken serious objection to the minister’s remarks, and had described it as “disparaging, dangerous, and language of the gutters”.
The court said his remark did not merely target the officer in question but also denigrated the armed forces as a whole.
Also Read: NCW slams derogatory remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi
Hours after the high court’s direction, the state police registered an FIR against Vijay Shah under BNS Sections 152, 196(1)(b), and 197(1)(c).
SC slams Shah for remarks
In Supreme Court, Sha’s plea was mentioned for urgent listing before a bench comprising Chief Justice BR Gavai and Justice Augustine George Masih.
Also Read: 'Ready to apologise 10 times over': MP minister after ‘terrorists’ sister’ remark at Sofiya Qureshi
“What sort of statements are you making? You are a responsible minister of the government,” the CJI told Shah’s counsel.
The bench said the plea would be heard on Friday (May 16).
Video went viral
Shah hit the headlines after a video, which went viral, showed him allegedly making objectionable remarks against Col Sofiya Qureshi, who was a prominent face of the armed forces along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh during media briefings on Operation Sindoor.
Also Read: India’s Fearless Women in Uniform: Meet Col. Sofiya Qureshi & Wing Commander Vyomika Singh
Taking suo motu cognisance of the controversial statement, the high court ordered the police to register a FIR against the minister.
After drawing severe condemnation, the MP tribal affairs minister said if anyone is hurt by his statement, he is ready to apologise ten times, adding that he respects Col Qureshi more than his sister.
(With agency inputs)