3 weeks ago
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The State of Madhya Pradesh connected Friday (May 8, 2026) told the Supreme Court that State Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah had intended to “praise” Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, but could not articulate himself properly.
Mr. Shah is accused of making disparaging remarks against the Army officer, who had briefed the media during “Operation Sindoor”.
Appearing earlier a Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, for the State of Madhya Pradesh, submitted, “I americium not justifying anything… But helium perchance wanted to praise the lady… He had tendered an apology. He could not articulate and helium wanted to praise… It is unfortunate.”
Chief Justice Kant responded that it was “most unfortunate”.
“We cognize that erstwhile a governmental property wants to praise, however good they tin bash it. If helium wanted to apologise, helium should person done it immediately,” the Chief Justice told Mr. Mehta.
Senior advocator Maninder Singh, appearing for Mr. Shah, said a nationalist apology had been issued the adjacent day.
Chief Justice Kant observed that the apology came lone aft the tribunal took cognisance of the matter. He said the apology appeared to beryllium portion of a “fake defence”.
“You should person gone with folded hands and tendered an apology… You consciousness arsenic if you are supra the law,” Chief Justice Kant said.
Mr. Singh submitted that Mr. Shah had apologised connected television.
Justice Joymalya Bagchi said a January 19, 2026 bid had referred to “some earlier instances” involving Mr. Shah. These instances, however, were not investigated by the Special Investigation Team.
The Bench said the State indispensable comply with its circumstantial directions successful the January 19 order, including taking a determination connected the assistance of anterior authorisation for prosecution. Mr. Mehta said the authorisation petition was pending with the State government. The petition for prosecution authorisation had been made to the State authorities successful August 2025.
The apical tribunal besides reiterated its January 19 petition to the State to “make an endeavour to find retired the details of the different instances attributed to the petitioner [Shah]”.
The tribunal listed the lawsuit for proceeding aft 4 weeks, by which clip the State has been asked to record a compliance report.
