Col Sofiya Qureshi case: Decision imminent on prosecution sanction, Madhya Pradesh govt tells SC

New Delhi: The Madhya Pradesh government on Monday apprised the Supreme Court that a decision on sanction for prosecution against state minister Vijay Shah in connection with his controversial remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, who had briefed the media during last year's Operation Sindoor, is imminent.

Counsel for the state government informed a three-member bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, that the SIT had concluded its investigation and that the sanction proposal had been forwarded to the governor. He informed the bench that a decision is expected by Tuesday. The bench sought clarity on the next steps to be taken once the competent authority decides on the prosecution sanction.

Read more: Enough is enough: SC raps MP government for delay in prosecuting minister over Col Sofiya Qureshi remark


CJI Kant told the special investigation team officer who was present in court, that supposing sanction is granted by the competent authority to prosecute Shah, a chargesheet will be filed. "If sanction is not granted, what will you do," CJI Kant asked the officer who responded that if sanction is denied, the investigating agency would file a closure report.