Remarks On Col. Sofiya Qureshi | Following HC Order, MP Police Books Minister Vijay Shah For Endangering India's Sovereignty

Hours after the Madhya Pradesh High Court suo motu directed the registration of an FIR against BJP leader and State Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his comment calling Colonel Sofiya Qureshi a "sister of terrorists", the state police have booked him under Sections 152, 196(1)(b), and 197(1)(c) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023.#JustIN | Following #MadhyaPradeshHighCourt's order, the MP Police has lodged an FIR against BJP leader and State Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his comment calling Colonel Sofiya Qureshi a "sister of terrorists", PTI has reported. pic.twitter.com/sg0jcHPhOQ— Live Law (@LiveLawIndia) May 14, 2025Section 152 of the BNS, which provides for punishment up to life imprisonment, criminalises any act that excites secession or armed rebellion or subversive activities, or encourages feelings of separatist activities or endangers the sovereignty or unity and integrity of India.On the other hand, Section 196 (1) (b) deals with acts that are prejudicial to the maintenance of harmony between different religious, racial, language or regional groups or castes or communities, and which disturb or is likely to disturb the public tranquillity. Section 197 (1) (c) BNS, on the other hand, deals with acts against national integration.It may be noted that this action comes against the backdrop of very stern remarks made by the High Court's bench earlier today, wherein Minsiter's Shah remarks were described as 'disparaging,' 'dangerous,' and 'language of the gutters'-not merely targeting the officer in question but denigrating the armed forces as a whole. A division bench of Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Anuradha Shukla had also warned the DGP of facing contempt if the order of the HC wasn't followed. Justice Sreedharan had orally remarked that he wouldn't take any excuses in this matter and added that the Court's direction will have to be complied with.When the Court ordered that the FIR be lodged by today evening, the Advocate General sought some time for compliance with the Court's order, to this, the bench said:"Register, register right now...I may not be alive tomorrow...I am giving you four hours...Let this order be stayed by the SC, or be complied by tomorrow."More details of the High Court's observations here: 'Language Of Gutters' : MP High Court Directs FIR Against BJP Minister Vijay Shah For Comments Against Col Sofiya QureshiAt 9:34 PM, the minister posted a video on his official X account, issuing a public apology for his remarks. He called Colonel Sophia Qureshi, 'the Nation's sister'.At 11:36 PM, the official X account of the Office of Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav posted that in compliance with the Madhya Pradesh High Court's order, the Chief Minister has directed appropriate action against Shah over his remarks.Colonel Sofiya Qureshi had become the face of the 'Operation Sindoor' after she gave press briefings about the military operations carried out by the Indian Air Force against Pakistani terrorist sites.Vijay Shah courted controversy by saying, "Jinhone humari betiyon ke sindoor ujade the… humne unhiki behen bhej kar ke unki aisi ki taisi karwayi" [Translation: Those people (terrorists) who had wiped out the sindoor (vermilion) of our sisters (in the Pahalgam terror attack)... we avenged these people by sending their sister to destroy them.

Remarks On Col. Sofiya Qureshi | Following HC Order, MP Police Books Minister Vijay Shah For Endangering India's Sovereignty

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