MP High Court orders FIR against Minister Shah for remarks on Col Sofiya Qureshi, citing BNS sections for promoting communal disharmony and threatening national unity. Court demands immediate police action to preserve harmony and uphold constitutional law.
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ordered the immediate registration of a First Information Report (FIR) against Tribal Affairs Minister Vijay Shah for his controversial remarks about Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. The court’s directive follows suo motu cognisance of a video clip in which Shah referred to Col Qureshi as the “sister of terrorists,” a statement that has sparked nationwide outrage.
The Jabalpur High Court bench, comprising Justice Atul Shridharan and Justice Anuradha Shukla, issued the order on Tuesday. The bench emphasized the urgency of the matter and instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to file an FIR within four hours of receiving the order. The court further warned of contempt proceedings if there is any delay in compliance.
In its initial observations, the court stated that Section 196(1)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, applies to this case due to Col Qureshi’s adherence to the Muslim faith. The remarks, the court said, could disturb religious harmony and create a dangerous precedent that people serving the nation might be subjected to communal prejudice.
The High Court also invoked Section 197 of the BNS, which criminalizes the publication of statements that incite hatred, enmity, or ill-will based on religious, racial, regional, or linguistic identity. Additionally, the court found that the minister’s statements could be seen as a violation of Sections 152 and 192 of the BNS, which deal with acts that endanger India’s sovereignty and promote communal division.
The controversy erupted after Minister Shah made the comments during a public gathering in Raikunda village, Mhow, Indore, on Sunday, May 11. While the statement initially went unnoticed, a video of the event surfaced on Tuesday, igniting widespread public condemnation.
Adding political pressure to the legal action, Madhya Pradesh Congress President Jitu Patwari led a delegation to the Shyamala Police Station on Wednesday. The delegation submitted a formal complaint demanding immediate action against Shah. Patwari argued that the minister’s remarks were not only communal but also threatened national unity and should be prosecuted under Sections 351, 352, 353, 78, and 152 of the BNS.
The court’s strong stance underscores the seriousness of communal remarks made by public representatives and reaffirms the judiciary’s commitment to preserving national harmony and constitutional values.
