NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday closed the proceedings before the Madhya Pradesh High Court against state minister Kunwar Vijay Shah with regard to his remarks against Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.
The woman Army officer shot into prominence for regular press briefings during the 'Operation Sindoor', an armed offensive launched by India on terror network in Pakistan following Pahalgam terror attack.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta submitted before a bench of Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta that parallel proceedings were going on before the High Court against the minister.
The bench said that as it was now seized of the matter therefore the proceedings before the High Court would stand closed.
The bench said the interim directions passed on May 19, including the stay of arrest of Shah, would stand extended.
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The court asked for a status report from the special investigation team (SIT) that was constituted by the Madhya Pradesh government in compliance with the top court's earlier order. The bench noted that the SIT has seized some devices and started its investigation.
The bench declined to permit any intervention in the matter, saying it does not want to politicise the issue.
The court fixed the matter for further hearing in the second week of July.
The court had on May 19 pulled up the minister for his remarks and constituted a three-member SIT to probe the FIR lodged against him.
After receiving widespread condemnation, Shah expressed regret and said that he respected Colonel Qureshi more than his sister.
The Madhya Pradesh minister came under fire after a video, which was circulated widely, showed him allegedly making objectionable remarks against Colonel Qureshi.
Shah filed the plea in the Supreme Court challenging an order of Madhya Pradesh High Court of May 14, 2025, which directed the registration of a criminal case against him.
Shah is the tribal affairs minister and BJP leader. The HC had passed its order, taking suo motu cognisance of the statement.
At a public event near Indore on May 13, the Minister claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had sent "a sister from the same community" as those in Pakistan to avenge the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam.
