The Madhya Pradesh High Court on Tuesday took suo motu cognisance and directed the immediate registration of an FIR against BJP leader and State Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah over his controversial remark referring to Colonel Sofiya Qureshi as a “sister of terrorists.”

A division bench comprising Justice Atul Sreedharan and Justice Anuradha Shukla observed that prima facie offences under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, are made out against the Minister. Specifically, the Court noted that the statement appears to attract provisions under:

• Section 152, which criminalises acts endangering the sovereignty, unity, and integrity of India; and

• Section 192, which pertains to promoting enmity between different groups based on religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, or caste.

“The Minister’s statement encourages feelings of separatism and thereby endangers the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India,” the bench stated. The Court further held that derogatory references to Colonel Qureshi, a Muslim officer in the armed forces, as a “sister of terrorists” fall within the ambit of Section 192.

The bench underscored the role of Colonel Qureshi as a respected representative of the Indian armed forces, noting that she, along with Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, was one of the public faces of Operation Sindoor, briefing the media on the Indian Air Force’s actions against Pakistani terrorist camps.

“The Armed Forces—an institution symbolising discipline, integrity and sacrifice—was maligned by the Minister. Though the remark was phrased as an innuendo, it unmistakably targeted Colonel Qureshi,” the Court orally observed.

The High Court directed the Director General of Police (DGP) to register the FIR by the evening, warning that failure to comply would result in contempt of court proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act.

The remarks in question were made by Vijay Shah during a public address, where he said:
"Jinhone humari betiyon ke sindoor ujade the… humne unhiki behen bhej kar ke unki aisi ki taisi karwayi."
(This loosely translates to: "Those who destroyed the vermilion of our daughters... we retaliated by sending their own sister.")

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi garnered national attention for her leadership and communication during Operation Sindoor, making Shah’s remarks particularly inflammatory and, in the Court’s view, legally untenable.