<p>New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered setting up of a special investigation team to probe "crass" remarks made by Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah against Colonel Officer Sofiya Qureshi, who came into limelight in regular press briefings during the Operation Sindoor, an armed offensive launched by India on terror network in Pakistan.</p><p>A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh slammed the minister and questioned him for "failing to make sincere attempts" to tender an apology in the matter.</p>.Sofiya Qureshi row fallout? BJP to organise communication skills training for Madhya Pradesh leaders.<p>"There is some meaning of apology. Sometimes people use docile language only to wriggle out of proceedings. And sometimes they shed crocodile tears. What kind of apology is yours?" the bench asked his counsel.</p><p>The court felt that the minister's remarks were "completely thoughtless". </p><p>"We don't require your apology. We know how to deal with it as per the law," the bench further told his counsel.</p><p>The bench also asked the Madhya Pradesh government what action has been taken so far in this case and asked the police about the status of the case.</p><p>The bench told the minister's counsel that he is a public figure and a seasoned politician, and he should have weighed his words. </p><p>"You were at the verge of using abusive language, you stopped. You were about to use filthy language, you couldn’t find a word so you stopped," the bench said.</p><p>"Meanwhile, you think how you will redeem yourself...entire nation is ashamed of...we are a country that firmly believes in rule of law..," the bench added.</p>.MP minister Shah 'scum' for comments on Col Qureshi, should be arrested: Owaisi.<p>The bench ordered that a special investigation team comprising three senior IPS officers, who do not belong to the state of Madhya Pradesh, must investigate the FIR against the BJP minister for his remarks against Colonel Sofiya. The bench said that one of the officers should be a woman.</p><p>The bench directed the Madhya Pradesh DGP to constitute the SIT by 10 am Tuesday, and it should be headed by an IGP and both members shall be of rank SP or above. </p><p>The bench also put on hold the arrest of Shah in the FIR, subject to the condition that he should join and cooperate with the investigation fully.</p><p>Shah approached the Supreme Court challenging an order of Madhya Pradesh High Court of May 14, 2025, which directed the registration of a criminal case against him for his controversial remarks on Colonel Qureshi. </p><p>Shah had at a public event near Indore on May 13 claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent "a sister from the same community" as those in Pakistan to avenge the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.</p><p>Shah is the tribal affairs minister and BJP leader. The HC had passed its order, taking suo motu cognisance of the statement.</p>
<p>New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday ordered setting up of a special investigation team to probe "crass" remarks made by Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah against Colonel Officer Sofiya Qureshi, who came into limelight in regular press briefings during the Operation Sindoor, an armed offensive launched by India on terror network in Pakistan.</p><p>A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh slammed the minister and questioned him for "failing to make sincere attempts" to tender an apology in the matter.</p>.Sofiya Qureshi row fallout? BJP to organise communication skills training for Madhya Pradesh leaders.<p>"There is some meaning of apology. Sometimes people use docile language only to wriggle out of proceedings. And sometimes they shed crocodile tears. What kind of apology is yours?" the bench asked his counsel.</p><p>The court felt that the minister's remarks were "completely thoughtless". </p><p>"We don't require your apology. We know how to deal with it as per the law," the bench further told his counsel.</p><p>The bench also asked the Madhya Pradesh government what action has been taken so far in this case and asked the police about the status of the case.</p><p>The bench told the minister's counsel that he is a public figure and a seasoned politician, and he should have weighed his words. </p><p>"You were at the verge of using abusive language, you stopped. You were about to use filthy language, you couldn’t find a word so you stopped," the bench said.</p><p>"Meanwhile, you think how you will redeem yourself...entire nation is ashamed of...we are a country that firmly believes in rule of law..," the bench added.</p>.MP minister Shah 'scum' for comments on Col Qureshi, should be arrested: Owaisi.<p>The bench ordered that a special investigation team comprising three senior IPS officers, who do not belong to the state of Madhya Pradesh, must investigate the FIR against the BJP minister for his remarks against Colonel Sofiya. The bench said that one of the officers should be a woman.</p><p>The bench directed the Madhya Pradesh DGP to constitute the SIT by 10 am Tuesday, and it should be headed by an IGP and both members shall be of rank SP or above. </p><p>The bench also put on hold the arrest of Shah in the FIR, subject to the condition that he should join and cooperate with the investigation fully.</p><p>Shah approached the Supreme Court challenging an order of Madhya Pradesh High Court of May 14, 2025, which directed the registration of a criminal case against him for his controversial remarks on Colonel Qureshi. </p><p>Shah had at a public event near Indore on May 13 claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent "a sister from the same community" as those in Pakistan to avenge the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.</p><p>Shah is the tribal affairs minister and BJP leader. The HC had passed its order, taking suo motu cognisance of the statement.</p>
