After SC's rap, Madhya Pradesh police forms SIT to probe BJP Min Vijay Shah's crass remarks against Col Sofiya Qureshi

Madhya Pradesh police has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the alleged defamatory remarks Bharatiya Janata Party Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah made against Indian Army Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. The move comes after the Supreme Court rapped the minister and state government on Monday for his controversial remarks against the Army officer.

 

As per a statement from the state police headquarters, the Madhya Pradesh police has formed a three-member SIT to probe the FIR registered against the minister for his alleged remarks against Qureshi. The SIT comprises Inspector General of Police Pramod Verma, Deputy Inspector General Kalyan Chakravarty and Superintendent of Police Vahini Singh, he said. As directed by the top court, the SIT will file its first probe status report on May 28.

 

On Monday, the Supreme Court refused to accept the apology the minister issued via social media in the wake of the controversy and rapped the minister for his crass language. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N. Kotishwar Singh observed that the minister's apology was not sincere. "What is that apology? What kind of apology have you tendered? There is some meaning of apology," the bench remarked.

 

The Supreme Court said the minister, being a senior politician, should have exercised caution. Observing that the entire nation was ashamed of Shah's comments, the apex court directed the minister to cooperate with the probe. The top court, however, protected him from arrest. 

 

The apex court also came down heavily on the state government for its lack of action in the case. Notably, the case was registered against the minister after the Madhya Pradesh High Court took suo motu cognisance of his comments. 

 

 Recently, addressing a gathering in Ramkunda village near Indore, Shah allegedly called Col Qureshi sister of terrorists. "They (terrorists) killed our Hindu brothers by making them remove their clothes. PM Modi ji responded by sending their sister in an Army plane to strike them in their houses. They made our sisters widows, so Modiji sent the sister of their community to strip them and teach them a lesson", the BJP leader said.

India