MP Mantri, Accused Of Making Derogatory Remarks Against Col. Sofya, Questioned By SIT

Bhopal:Madhya Pradesh tribal welfare minister Vijay Shah, accused of making derogatory remarks against Col. Sofya Qureshi, was grilled by the special investigation team (SIT) probing the issue, sources said on Friday.

The SIT comprising three senior police officers of Madhya Pradesh has been constituted to probe the matter following a directive by the Supreme Court (SC).

The minister was summoned by the SIT for questioning at Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh last week in connection with the incident, a senior police officer told this newspaper, unwilling to be quoted.

The SIT reportedly asked him eight-ten questions relating to his controversial remarks made against Col. Qureshi during his speech at a function at Raikunda village under Mhow in Indore district on May 11, before taking his statement, the police officer said.

The video in which the minister was heard making the statement has been sent for forensic test, sources said.

The SIT will include the forensic test report of the video in its status report on the incident scheduled to be submitted to the SC on July 28, sources said.

The Madhya Pradesh High Court (HC) had earlier taken suo moto cognizance of the matter after the video went viral and ordered the state government to register an FIR against the minister.

Later, on May 19, the SC heard the case and ordered a probe by a SIT into it.

The three-member SIT comprising IPS officers, Pramod Verma, Kalyan Chaktravarti and Vahini Singh, set up a base camp at the government rest house in Vanganga area in Indore to begin the investigation into it.

The SIT had visited the venue of the function where the minister had made the controversial remarks as part of the probe.

The SIT has summoned 125 people who had attended the function, for questioning, sources said.

The minister had offered apology thrice after the issue sparked a national outrage.

He was yet to attend his office.