New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday came down heavily on Madhya Pradesh Minister and BJP leader Kunwar Vijay Shah for his controversial comment targeting Colonel Sofiya Qureshi who briefed the media during Operation Sindoor against Pakistan.
The court expressed deep disapproval, stating that Shah had brought shame to the entire nation.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice N Kotiswar Singh was hearing Shah’s plea challenging a Madhya Pradesh High Court order that had directed the registration of a criminal case against him.
The High Court had taken suo motu cognizance of Shah’s alleged remark, “Those who widowed our daughters, we sent a sister of their own to teach them a lesson.”
Condemning the statement as “crass and shameful,” the apex court remarked: “The entire nation is ashamed of you. It is for you to decide how you wish to redeem yourself.”
Justice Kant took serious note of Shah’s attempt to tender an apology, dismissing it as insincere and manipulative. “We don’t need this apology. You’re not in contempt of court that you’re offering it here.”
“You commit a wrong and then try to escape through a hollow apology. Is this your attitude?” the court questioned.
The bench observed that Shah’s statement had deeply hurt public sentiment and that his so-called apology appeared crafted only to avoid legal consequences.
“Sometimes people give artificial apologies just to escape. Some even shed crocodile tears. Which category do you fall into?” the court asked.
The court further observed that Shah, a senior political figure, should have been far more cautious in his speech.
“You’re a public figure. Your words carry weight. From the video, it appears you were on the verge of using abusive language but stopped mid-sentence perhaps out of self-restraint or simply because you couldn’t find the right insult.”
Rejecting the Minister's claim of genuine regret, the court said, “If you call this genuine regret, we outright reject it. You’ve said, ‘If I’ve hurt anyone, then I apologize’ this kind of conditional apology is unacceptable. You don’t even acknowledge the harm caused.”
While staying Shah’s arrest for now, the court ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) comprising senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers to probe the incident. Shah has been directed to fully cooperate with the investigation.
Clarifying that the high court had not passed a conviction but merely directed the registration of an FIR, the Supreme Court concluded, “We are a country governed by the rule of law. The same standards apply to all.”
