{
  "id": 3110609,
  "title": "MP Government Moves To Deny SIT Nod To Prosecute Tribal Welfare Minister Vijay Shah",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/24/mp-government-moves-to-deny-sit-nod-to-prosecute-tribal-welfare",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-24T20:30:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/bhopal/mp-government-moves-to-deny-sit-nod-to-prosecute-tribal-welfare-minister-vijay-shah"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Madhya Pradesh government is determined to thwart the State Investigation Team's (SIT) pursuit to prosecute Tribal Welfare Minister Vijay Shah for remarks he made concerning Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. The state administration intends to avert giving SIT the nod for prosecuting Shah, as discussed during a cabinet meeting slated for Tuesday. Upon the cabinet's approval, the proposal will be forwarded to the governor. The apex court is scheduled to adjudicate the case on August 31.\n\nUnder Section 196(1)(a) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), SIT has requested permission to prosecute Shah, requiring government approval as stipulated in Section 217 of the BNS. A notice from STF seeking approval for prosecuting Shah has been pending with the government for over a year. Following the Supreme Court's directive on January 19, a two-week timeframe was granted to the government to decide on the issue, which has since been further delayed.\n\nThis move by the government to deny SIT permission for prosecuting Shah may safeguard Shah's position in the cabinet. Otherwise, Shah would be compelled to resign from his ministerial role. During a heated exchange, Shah had labelled Colonel Sofiya as the \"sister of terrorists,\" igniting a nationwide controversy, leading the high court to take notice of the issue. Subsequently, Shah filed a petition in the Supreme Court, which is presently reviewing the matter. Even without the government's nod for prosecution, the case would persist. According to legal experts, the case would remain unresolved, and once Shah steps down from the ministry, SIT could proceed with the prosecution without requiring any further authorization.\n\nContravening Section 196(1)(a) of the BNS, Shah faces the possibility of up to three years imprisonment and a fine. The provision is specifically targeted at individuals who incite hatred and inequality among diverse races, religious communities, regional groups, and castes. Two prolonged protests in Bhopal's Neelam Park over teacher posts and school closures have further intensified the situation.",
  "summary": "Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): SIT has sought permission to prosecute Tribal Welfare Minister Vijay Shah for his comments on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi. The state government plans to save Shah. The home department will put up a proposal for not giving permission to prosecute Shah before the cabinet on Tuesday. After the cabinet approves the proposal, the government will send it to the governor. The Supreme…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}