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Expressing a lack of confidence in the police’s ability to conduct a fair investigation, the Madhya Pradesh High Court decided to monitor the probe into the FIR.
BJP leader Kunwar Vijay Shah’s remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi sparked backlash. (PTI/X)
The Madhya Pradesh High Court criticized the state’s handling of the First Information Report (FIR) filed against BJP minister Kunwar Vijay Shah, who made disparaging remarks about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. Vijay Shah- who serves as the state’s Tribal Welfare Minister- equated Colonel Sofiya Qureshi’s role in the military with a communal and gendered slur during a public speech.
Colonel Sofiya Qureshi became one of the most prominent faces of media briefings when India launched Operation Sindoor against terror hideouts in Pakistan. The court, comprising Justices Atul Sreedharan and Anuradha Shukla, had initiated a suo motu case earlier and mandated the filing of an FIR by Wednesday evening.
What High Court Told MP Police On Vijay Shah’s FIR
Upon being informed by Advocate General Prashant Singh that the FIR was registered, the Madhya Pradesh High Court found the document to be “drafted in a casual manner,” indicating significant shortcomings in its preparation.
“Have you read the FIR? How has it been drafted? There are no ingredients. It has been drafted in such a manner that it can be quashed. Content must be there in FIR. The allegations must come out…FIR get quashed because it does not reflect ingredients. There is no description of what offence is, except for saying order dated so and so. That is why we draw our inferences. It (FIR) only says certain directions are given,” Justice Sreedharan said.
Expressing a lack of confidence in the police’s ability to conduct a fair investigation, the Madhya Pradesh High Court decided to monitor the probe into the FIR.
In its order, the court stated, “Under the circumstances, this Court feels compelled to ensure that it monitors the investigation without interfering with the independence of the investigation agency… In view of the nature of the case and the manner in which the FIR has been registered, it does not inspire confidence of the Court that if the case is not monitored, the Police would investigate fairly, in the interest of justice and in accordance with law.”
What Supreme Court Said On Vijay Shah’s Remarks
This comes as Vijay Shah approached the Supreme Court challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s May 14 order. The top court declined to grant him any interim relief or stay of the FIR registered against him.
“Such a person holding a constitutional office should be responsible…when this country is going through such a situation, he has to know what he is saying. Just because you are a minister…We will hear it tomorrow,” the Supreme Court said.
- Location :
Bhopal, India, India
- First Published:
