Bhopal, May 15: Madhya Pradesh High Court on Thursday strongly criticized the state police over the manner in which the FIR was registered against BJP Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah in Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi remarks' case.
During the hearing, the bench questioned the FIR's substance, asking, is this it? Have you read the FIR? Where are the ingredients of the offence?” Observing that the FIR lacked any material that could constitute a cognizable offence, the court remarked that it had been “drafted in such a way that it can be quashed.”
The bench added that there is nothing in the FIR.
In the interest of justice, the High Court said the investigation shall be closely monitored. The FIR is to be amended to include the entirety of the High Court's earlier order in Para 12, all details of actions by Vijay Shah are to be mentioned clearly.
The court reiterated that there has to be a cognisable offence,” and asked that where are the contents of those offences?
However, the minister had approached the Supreme Court for relief a day after the Madhya Pradesh High Court ordered an FIR against him for “hate speech” against Army’s Colonel Sofiya Qureshi.
A case has also been registered against Shah in Indore under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The case was registered in compliance with a high court order, which called the minister's remarks "disparaging and dangerous".
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