Colonel Sofiya Qureshi (File photo)
The Supreme Court on Friday sharply rebuked the Madhya Pradesh government over the delay in deciding sanction to prosecute minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his remarks targeting Army officer Sofiya Qureshi after Operation Sindoor, saying “Enough is enough”.A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi directed the state government to comply within four weeks with its earlier order asking it to take a decision on granting sanction for prosecution.The court’s remarks came after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta told the bench that Shah’s comments were “definitely unfortunate” and that the minister had apologised soon after the controversy erupted. The bench, however, appeared unconvinced. “Not unfortunate, but most unfortunate and then he has no sense of repentance also,” the Chief Justice observed, refusing to entertain further submissions from the state or Shah’s counsel.The court also rejected the argument that Shah may have intended to praise Col Qureshi but failed to articulate himself properly. Shah, who is facing a Supreme Court-monitored SIT probe over the remarks termed “scurrilous” and “objectionable” by the courts, was partly defended by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who suggested that the minister may have intended to praise Col Sofiya Qureshi but “ended up saying something else” and failed to articulate himself properly. Mehta clarified that the view was his personal opinion and not a defence of Shah.However, the bench remarked, “these political personalities, we know if they want to praise, how articulate they are with their words.”The case stems from objectionable remarks made by Shah against Col Qureshi, who came into the national spotlight alongside Vyomika Singh during media briefings on Operation Sindoor. The Madhya Pradesh High Court had earlier criticised Shah for using “language of the gutters” and ordered registration of an FIR on charges related to promoting enmity and hatred.The Supreme Court had subsequently constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the case. According to the court, the SIT has completed its investigation and submitted its final report, but further proceedings are awaiting mandatory sanction from the state government under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
