NEW DELHI JAN 18 : The Supreme Court is set to hear on January 19 a plea by Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah challenging a high court order for registering an FIR against him for using “language of the gutters” against Indian Army officer Col Sofiya Qureshi.
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant, along with Justices Dipankar Datta and Joymalya Bagchi, will consider the matter. Shah has expressed regret over his remarks, which targeted Col Qureshi—prominent during Operation Sindoor media briefings alongside Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.
Shah faced backlash after a widely circulated video showed him making objectionable remarks. The Madhya Pradesh High Court condemned them as “scurrilous” and ordered an FIR for promoting enmity and hatred.
Shah later expressed regret, stating he respects Col Qureshi more than his sister.
The top court initially rebuked Shah and constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the FIR. On May 28, 2025, it ordered closure of high court proceedings pending a SIT status report.
On July 28, 2025, the court criticized Shah for not formally placing his public online apology on record, warning it was “testing the court’s patience” and raising doubts about his intentions. Senior advocate K Parmeshwar assured the apology would be filed.
The SIT submitted a sealed cover report after examining 27 witnesses, currently under scrutiny. The court directed recording statements from those whose sentiments were hurt, not just Shah’s.
