Madhya Pradesh HC orders FIR against Minister Vijay Shah over remarks on Colonel Sofia Qureshi
Bhopal: The Madhya Pradesh High Court has directed the registration of a police case against BJP minister Kunwar Vijay Shah over his controversial remarks against Indian Army officer Colonel Sofia Qureshi, who recently briefed the media about Operation Sindoor against Pakistan.
Taking suo motu cognizance based on newspaper reports, Justice Atul Sreedharan observed that the minister's comments were "dangerous" and could incite enmity between groups, potentially falling under Section 196 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with actions that promote enmity on religious grounds.
"The FIR needs to be registered. Everyone can see it [the comments]," the judge stated, directing the Director General of Police (DGP) to file a First Information Report (FIR) by the evening. The court warned that failure to comply would lead to proceedings under the Contempt of Courts Act against the DGP.
When the Advocate General argued that the court had acted solely based on media reports, Justice Sreedharan remarked, "Now that you’ve said that, we will add links of videos to the order." He also emphasized the urgency of the matter, stating, “I may not be alive tomorrow.”
The court made it clear that while the investigation would be left to the concerned authorities, the immediate registration of an FIR was non-negotiable. “Chaar gante bahut wakht hai (four hours is more than enough time),” the court noted, adding that the matter would be taken up on priority the next day.
“This is our order: DGP will comply or it will be stayed by the Supreme Court,” Justice Sreedharan concluded.
Breaking: Madhya Pradesh High Court takes suo motu cognizance of BJP minister Kunwar Vijay Shah's comments targeting Colonel Sofia Qureshi, the Indian Army officer who had briefed the media about Operation Sindoor against Pakistan. pic.twitter.com/mtRDCGjsP7
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
