Overview
- Two days before a February 9 Supreme Court hearing, minister Kunwar Vijay Shah posted another apology video, saying his May remarks about Colonel Sofiya Qureshi were spoken in patriotic excitement and not meant to insult the Army or a woman officer.
- The Supreme Court’s two‑week window set on January 18–19 for the state to decide on prosecution has passed, according to multiple reports, with no sanction granted so far.
- A Special Investigation Team constituted by the Supreme Court has recommended prosecuting Shah and requested mandatory state sanction under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
- State officials are considering seeking more time from the court and may file a response before the hearing, according to reports citing government sources.
- The High Court earlier ordered an FIR under BNS sections 152, 196(1)(b) and 197(1)(c), and the Supreme Court has signalled skepticism about Shah’s earlier apologies, which it described as insincere, as opposition leaders continue to press for his removal.