SC Raps MP Minister for Calling Col Sofiya Qureshi ‘Sister of Terrorists’, Calls Apology ‘Crocodile Tears’

The Supreme Court on Monday expressed scepticism over Madhya Pradesh BJP minister Kunwar Vijay Shah's apology for his remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, questioning whether it was merely "crocodile tears" to escape legal accountability.

Colonel Qureshi, alongside Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, had briefed the media on the military aspects of Operation Sindoor.

A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh stated that they did not require the minister's apology.

"The kind of crass comments you made, completely thoughtlessly... We don't need this apology," the court said, adding that it appeared to be "crocodile tears" to dodge legal consequences.

The court reminded the minister that, as a public representative, he ought to choose his words with care.

"We saw your videos; you were on the verge of using filthy language," the bench remarked during the proceedings.

The apex court directed the Madhya Pradesh police to establish a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to look into the matter. The SIT must be constituted by Tuesday, 20 May, under the direction of the state's Director General of Police (DGP). It should comprise three senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, including one female officer.

Additionally, the bench ordered that all three officers should be "from outside the state" and that the team should be led by an officer of at least Inspector General (IG) rank, while the other two should not be below the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP).

In a video of a public speech that went viral on social media, Kunwar Vijay Shah was seen referring to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi as a "sister of terrorists".