'Gutter language': Madhya Pradesh HC slams minister's remarks on Col Sophia Qureshi, orders FIR

Taking suo motu cognizance of the matter, which has sparked massive outrage, the court directed the state police chief to file a First Information Report (FIR) against Vijay Shah.

The court said this must be completed by this evening, failing which the court will consider initiating contempt proceedings against the police chief.

Colonel Sofiya Qureshi and Wing Commander Vyomika Singh have been the face of the armed forces during the media briefings on Operation Sindoor.

Both have frequently joined Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri during the briefings.

The Jabalpur High Court bench of Justices Atul Sreedharan and Anuradha Shukla lashed out at Vijay Shah for using "language of the gutters" against a senior Indian Army officer.

Terming the comments "dangerous" and "disparaging", the judges said they were also prima facie offences under two stringent sections of Indian law.

The Bench expressed concern that such a statement "encourages feelings of separatist activities by imputing separatist feeling to anyone who is Muslim," thereby violating the constitutional spirit of unity and fraternity.

In a sharply worded commetns, the court said: "The armed forces, perhaps the last institution existing in this country, reflecting integrity, industry, discipline, sacrifice, selflessness, character, honour and indomitable courage... has been targeted by Mr. Vijay Shah who has used the language of the gutters against Col. Sofia Quraishi."

What did Vijay Shah say?

Speaking at a cultural event in Mhow on Tuesday, Shah said the terrorists had "wiped the sindoor of our sisters and daughters, and we sent their own sister to revenge it".

"They stripped Hindus and killed them, and Modi-ji sent their sister to return the favour. We couldn't undress them, so we sent a daughter from their community... You widowed sisters of our community, so a sister of your community will strip you naked. Modi-ji proved that the daughters of your caste can be sent to Pakistan to take revenge," the minister had added.

He made the remarks before an audience that included Union Minister of State for Women and Child Development Savitri Thakur, MLA and former Cabinet minister Usha Thakur, and several local leaders of the BJP.

The comments were condemned by the army veterans and the Opposition parties. Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge had called for his sacking.