In the case related to an alleged objectionable remark made about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the Supreme Court has issued a significant directive to the Madhya Pradesh government. The apex court has asked the state government to decide within two weeks whether or not to grant sanction for the prosecution of BJP leader and state minister Kunwar Vijay Shah.

A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court, headed by Justice Suryakant and comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and Joymalya Bagchi, made it clear that the state government cannot delay its decision on the ground that the matter is pending before the court. The bench also directed the government to file a status report before the next hearing.

The court was informed that the Special Investigation Team constituted to probe Vijay Shah’s remarks has completed its investigation and submitted its final report to the state government. However, no decision has yet been taken on granting sanction for prosecution.

During the hearing, senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Vijay Shah, told the court that his client had tendered an apology and was fully cooperating with the investigation. Responding to this, the Supreme Court observed,
“It is too late to tender an apology in this matter. We are in 2026.”

The apex court was hearing Shah’s appeal challenging the Madhya Pradesh High Court’s suo motu order directing the registration of an FIR against him.

The case dates back to May 12, 2025, when Vijay Shah allegedly made objectionable remarks about senior Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi during a public programme in Rakunda village of Indore district. The remarks were made in the context of Operation Sindoor, launched after the Pahalgam terror attack.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi was among the key officials, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, who briefed the media on Operation Sindoor. Following the circulation of a video clip of Shah’s speech on social media, the remarks triggered widespread criticism.

Subsequently, on May 14, 2025, the Madhya Pradesh High Court took suo motu cognisance of the matter and directed the police to register an FIR. Shah was booked under Sections 152, 196(1)(b), and 197 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

On May 19, 2025, the Supreme Court described the remarks as “shameful” and ordered the constitution of a three-member Special Investigation Team. The SIT comprised Inspector General Pramod Verma, Deputy Inspector General Kalyan Chakraborty, and Dindori Superintendent of Police Vahini Singh.

Kunwar Vijay Shah is an eight-time MLA and is considered a prominent tribal leader of the BJP. He has previously been involved in several controversies, including remarks made in 2013 about the then chief minister’s wife, comments targeting the transgender community, and controversial decisions taken during his tenure as education minister.

Following the Supreme Court’s directive, the focus is now on whether the Madhya Pradesh government will take a decision on granting prosecution sanction within the stipulated timeframe.