New Delhi: SC has questioned the delay by the Madhya Pradesh government in deciding a request, seeking sanction to prosecute its minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his objectionable remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who had briefed the media during last year's Operation Sindoor.
A bench of CJI Surya Kant, justices Dipankar Datta and Joymalya Bagchi directed the MP government to take a call on a request by the special investigation team seeking sanction to prosecute Vijay Shah. SIT was constituted on the directions of SC.
The bench perused the investigation status report submitted by SIT in a sealed cover. The bench noted that after investigating various aspects, SIT sought the government's sanction to prosecute Shah. Questioning the delay, CJI Kant orally remarked: "You (MP government) are sitting over the SIT report since August 19, 2025. Statute casts an obligation on you and you must take a call."
The bench said in its order: "We are informed that no action has been taken by the state since matter is pending here (in SC). We direct the state of Madhya Pradesh to take an appropriate step for sanction in terms of law." The counsel for the state government earlier submitted that it had not acted on SIT's request since the matter was pending before the top court.
A bench of CJI Surya Kant, justices Dipankar Datta and Joymalya Bagchi directed the MP government to take a call on a request by the special investigation team seeking sanction to prosecute Vijay Shah. SIT was constituted on the directions of SC.
The bench perused the investigation status report submitted by SIT in a sealed cover. The bench noted that after investigating various aspects, SIT sought the government's sanction to prosecute Shah. Questioning the delay, CJI Kant orally remarked: "You (MP government) are sitting over the SIT report since August 19, 2025. Statute casts an obligation on you and you must take a call."
The bench said in its order: "We are informed that no action has been taken by the state since matter is pending here (in SC). We direct the state of Madhya Pradesh to take an appropriate step for sanction in terms of law." The counsel for the state government earlier submitted that it had not acted on SIT's request since the matter was pending before the top court.
( Originally published on Jan 19, 2026 )
