Madhya Pradesh High Court Orders FIR Against Minister Vijay Shah Over Comments On Colonel Sofiya Qureshi

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered the state police to register a case against Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah for making derogatory and sexist remarks about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, NDTV reported. 

The court took suo motu cognisance of Shah’s statements, which have sparked widespread outrage and political condemnation.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi has been seen regularly addressing press briefings on Operation Sindoor alongside Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh.

Speaking at a cultural event in Mhow on Tuesday (13 May), Vijay Shah said, "They (Pakistan) had taken away the sindoor of our sisters and daughters, and we sent their own sister to give it back to them in kind."

Shah made the remarks in the presence of several dignitaries, including Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur, former cabinet minister and MLA Usha Thakur, and various local elected representatives.

The comments drew strong criticism from the opposition, with Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge demanding Shah’s immediate dismissal from the state cabinet.

Following the court's directive, the Director General of Police has been instructed to file a First Information Report (FIR) against Shah, marking a legal escalation in a controversy that has put the minister under intense scrutiny.