Indore/Jabalpur: In a landmark move, the Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered the registration of a criminal case against State Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah for making derogatory, communal, and sexist remarks against Colonel Sofia Qureshi, a senior officer in the Indian Army. The court took suo motu cognizance of Shah’s inflammatory speech and directed police action under stringent sections of Indian law related to national unity and integrity.
The remarks, made during a public event in Mhow on May 14, referred to Colonel Qureshi as the “sister of terrorists” and included a series of inflammatory statements aimed at her religious identity. Speaking to an audience that included Union Minister Savitri Thakur and other BJP leaders, Shah said:
“Terrorists wiped the sindoor of our sisters and daughters, so we sent their own sister to take revenge… You widowed our community’s women, so now a sister from your community will strip you. Modi-ji proved that daughters of your caste can be sent to Pakistan to avenge us.”
The comments sparked widespread condemnation from Army veterans, civil society, and opposition leaders. Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge called for Shah’s immediate dismissal, stating that such divisive language was unacceptable from a government minister.
Colonel Sofia Qureshi, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, has been a prominent face of the Indian Armed Forces during official briefings on Operation Sindoor, often appearing alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
The High Court bench, comprising Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Anuradha Shukla, expressed deep concern over the minister’s comments. In a strongly-worded order issued at 2 PM on May 14, the court directed the Director General of Police Kailash Makwana to ensure an FIR was filed by the same evening. The court warned that non-compliance would result in contempt proceedings.
By late night, nearly nine hours after the court’s order, Indore Police registered a criminal case against Shah at the Manpur police station. This marks the first time in Madhya Pradesh’s history that a sitting minister has been booked under sections related to endangering the unity and integrity of the nation.
The judges slammed the minister for using what they described as “language of the gutters” against a senior military officer and observed that his statements could fuel separatist sentiments, particularly by targeting members of the Muslim community.
“The armed forces — perhaps the last institution in the country symbolizing integrity, sacrifice, and courage — has been demeaned by Mr. Vijay Shah,” the court stated in its order.
“His comments are not only dangerous and disparaging but also prima facie offences that violate the constitutional spirit of unity and fraternity.”
The court’s intervention has ignited a larger debate on hate speech by public officials, with many calling for stronger accountability mechanisms and respect for the Armed Forces, which remain a unifying force in India’s diverse democracy.
