Remarks On Col Qureshi: Guv Rejects Prosecution Of MP Minister Shah
The governor endorsed the cabinet’s decision late on Monday night after returning to Bhopal, following the submission of the file by the state chief secretary Ashok Barnwal, highly placed sources told this newspaper on Tuesday.
Bhopal: Madhya Pradesh governor Manghubhai Patel has reportedly approved the state cabinet’s recommendation denying sanction to prosecute senior minister Kunwar Vijay Shah over his controversial remarks targeting Army officer Colonel Sofya Qureshi.
The governor endorsed the cabinet’s decision late on Monday night after returning to Bhopal, following the submission of the file by the state chief secretary Ashok Barnwal, highly placed sources told this newspaper on Tuesday.
The state cabinet, led by chief minister Mohan Yadav, resolved on August 25 to protect the senior tribal leader and minister from prosecution, citing his subsequent apologies.
The approval came hours after the Madhya Pradesh government informed the supreme court that the special investigation team (SIT) had completed its probe and that the prosecution sanction file was pending with the governor.
A delegation of Congress leaders led by Leader of Opposition Umang Singhar met the governor on Tuesday and urged him to reconsider the state cabinet’s decision not to grant prosecution sanction against Mr. Shah over his controversial remarks targeting Col. Qureshi.
On Monday, a supreme court bench headed by Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and comprising Justices Joymalya Bagchi and J Mohana deferred further proceedings in the case pending the decision of the competent authority (the Madhya Pradesh governor) after it was informed by the MP government that the prosecution filed had reached the governor and a decision was expected shortly.
The SIT informed the supreme court that the probe agency will file chargesheet in the case if sanction to prosecute the minister was granted, otherwise, it will file a closure report.
The issue relates to a speech by the minister at a village in Mhow in Indore district in Madhya Pradesh on May 25 last year in which he made some objectionable remarks targeting Col. Qureshi.
He however later apologized for his remarks saying that he never intended to hurt anyone’s sentiment.
The Madhya Pradesh high court however later took cognizance of it and ordered registration of an FIR against the minister.
Mr. Shah had then moved the supreme court challenging the MP high court’s directive,
The supreme court however constituted a SIT comprising two police officers of Madhya Pradesh to probe the matter.
