Madhya Pradesh High Court Orders FIR Against Minister Vijay Shah for Remarks on Army Officer
Bhopal: Wednesday, May 14, 2025
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has mandated the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against state cabinet minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his controversial remarks concerning Colonel Sofia Qureshi, an officer of the Indian Army. The court took suo motu cognizance of the minister’s statements on Wednesday, May 14, 2025, and directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to register the FIR within four hours, by 6 p.m. the same day.
The division bench, comprising Justice Atul Shridharan and Justice Anuradha Shukla, issued the stern directive. Failure by the DGP to comply could lead to contempt of court proceedings.
The controversy erupted after Minister Shah made objectionable comments that appeared to target Colonel Qureshi, who has been a prominent face during media briefings regarding ‘Operation Sindoor’. Shah’s remarks, reportedly calling her a “sister of terrorists” or implying that someone from “their community” was sent to deal with terrorists, sparked widespread condemnation.
The High Court observed that prima facie, Shah’s statements could constitute offences under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) related to promoting enmity between different groups and acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India. The court described the minister’s comments as “cancerous and dangerous,” noting that they targeted the armed forces, an institution reflecting integrity and sacrifice.
Following severe criticism from opposition parties and within his own party, Minister Shah had issued an apology, stating that he respects Colonel Qureshi more than his own sister and that he was ready to apologize multiple times if his words had caused hurt.
However, the apology did not quell the outrage. The Congress party has demanded Shah’s immediate dismissal from the cabinet and has lodged complaints. Protests have also been held by various organizations.
The High Court’s intervention has intensified the pressure on the state government and Minister Shah. The court has scheduled the next hearing in the matter for 10:30 a.m. on Thursday and has asked to be informed about the registration of the FIR.