Madhya Pradesh to Defend Minister in Colonel Qureshi Remarks Case Before Supreme Court
Madhya Pradesh will argue before the Supreme Court that minister Vijay Shah's remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi do not warrant prosecution, citing no formal complaint and his repeated apologies.
The Madhya Pradesh government is set to file its response in the Supreme Court defending its decision to deny sanction for the prosecution of senior minister Kunwar Vijay Shah over his remarks about Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.
The state's reply, expected after review by legal experts and the Chief Minister's Office, will rest on a five-point defence. A central argument is that no individual filed a formal complaint against Shah following the controversy. The government also contends that Shah did not name Colonel Qureshi in his statement and that he lacked any intent to insult her.
Officials are also highlighting that Shah apologised three times, including in writing. The Cabinet views these expressions of regret as a key factor against prosecution. The episode has been described as a human error, with the state arguing there is no basis for criminal sanction given the absence of deliberate intent.
Another part of the defence asserts that Shah's remarks did not disturb communal harmony, with no actual disruption or intention to create one.
The Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Mohan Yadav, decided on August 25 against granting prosecution sanction. Governor Mangubhai Patel later approved this decision.
Shah's political standing is central to the case. He has won eight consecutive Assembly elections since 1990 and has held five portfolios, including Tribal Welfare and Forest. A scion of the Makrai royal family and a Rajgond, he is a prominent tribal face for the BJP.
Scheduled Tribes constitute around 22 percent of Madhya Pradesh's population, with 47 reserved Assembly seats. Shah's influence among Gond voters makes him a significant political figure. In 2013, he was briefly removed from the Cabinet after controversial remarks but returned within four months.
The current controversy stems from a video in May 2025 showing Shah making objectionable remarks about Colonel Qureshi, who gained prominence during Operation Sindoor briefings. The High Court took suo motu cognisance, ordered an FIR, and the case reached the Supreme Court. The apex court has previously questioned the adequacy of Shah's apology.