In a scathing rebuke on Monday, the Supreme Court of India dismissed Madhya Pradesh BJP minister Kunwar Vijay Shah’s apology for his derogatory comments against Indian Army officer Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, terming it nothing more than “crocodile tears” and questioning its sincerity.

Colonel Qureshi had played a key role in briefing the media, alongside Wing Commander Vyomika Singh, about the strategic execution of Operation Sindoor—India’s military response to the April 22 terrorist attack in Kashmir. Shah's controversial reference to Colonel Qureshi as the “sister of terrorists” had triggered a political storm and public outrage.

A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh came down heavily on Shah, calling out the indecency and lack of decorum in his remarks. “The kind of crass comments you made, completely thoughtlessly... We don't need this apology,” said the bench. “Sometimes people shed crocodile tears to wriggle out of proceedings,” Justice Kant added, expressing clear dissatisfaction with Shah’s behavior in public discourse.

The court warned the minister that as an elected representative, every word he speaks carries weight and responsibility. “We saw your videos; you were on the verge of using filthy language,” the bench observed, pulling no punches in condemning his conduct.

Taking a step further, the apex court ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the matter thoroughly. Directing the Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) to act by May 20, the court instructed that the SIT should comprise three senior Indian Police Service (IPS) officers from outside the state, including at least one woman officer. The team must be led by an officer of the rank of Inspector General (IG) or higher, with the remaining two members not below the rank of Superintendent of Police (SP).

The ruling comes days after Shah’s apology was submitted following an FIR registered against him after the Madhya Pradesh High Court took suo motu cognizance of the incident. Though the Supreme Court granted him interim protection from arrest, it made it clear that accountability for public statements, especially those targeting national security personnel, cannot be diluted by insincere remorse.