New Delhi, May 20 -- The Supreme Court on Monday rejected the apology tendered by Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah for his objectionable remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi, the Indian Army officer who, on several occasions, briefed the media on Operation Sindoor, India's military strikes against terror hubs in Pakistan following the terror attack at Pahalgam. The court termed as "crass" Shah's comments, which sought to communalise Col. Qureshi's involvement, and said his apology was an insincere attempt to escape accountability. The Court instead directed the Madhya Pradesh police to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter, terming the episode a "litmus test" for the State government. To be sure, while the state police registered a FIR against the minister after being pushed and prodded by the Madhya Pradesh high court, it has done little after that. A bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotishwar Singh expressed deep displeasure over the minister's comments and the timing of his speech, delivered shortly after India's military strikes on terror targets in Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir. "You are a public figure. You should weigh your words. You were on the verge of using filthy and abusive language. You probably only stopped because you could not think of an alternate word or good sense prevailed." The bench directed the Madhya Pradesh Director General of Police to constitute the SIT by Tuesday, May 20. The team must include three senior IPS officers of the Madhya Pradesh cadre, none of whom are currently posted in the state, and must include at least one woman officer. The SIT is to be led by an officer not below the rank of Inspector General of Police (IGP), with the remaining members being of Superintendent of Police (SP) rank or higher, the Apex Court said. The court also said Shah's arrest in the case will be stayed until further orders. It added that while it was not going to use the term "court-monitored probe," the Court will still keep a "close watch" on the matter. The Court accordingly directed the SIT to submit its first status report to the court by May 28. When senior advocate Maninder Singh, who appeared for Shah, reiterated that the minister had issued a public apology, the Court said it was dismissing the apology as it was conditional and lacked sincerity. "Have you seen the apology? It begins with an 'if.' What is this condition? What does he think of himself? You might not have watched your own video but we were forced to. We are still carrying your video clips." The bench added that the entire nation was "ashamed" of Shah's conduct, especially given the sensitive nature of the military operation and the role of the armed forces. Colonel Sofiya Qureshi was one of the two women officers who briefed the media on Operation Sindoor, India's retaliatory strikes in response to terrorist attacks. At a public event in Indore on May 12, Shah, a member of the Bharatiya Janata Party, made a remark that communalised Qureshi's presence at the briefings. "Those who widowed our daughters, we sent a sister of their own to teach them a lesson," he said. His comments sparked public outrage, prompting the Madhya Pradesh High Court to take suo motu cognisance and direct the registration of a criminal case against him. Following the High Court's May 14 order, an FIR was filed against Shah under Sections 152 (acts endangering the sovereignty and integrity of India), 196(1)(b) (disturbing public tranquillity), and 197(1)(c) (promoting enmity) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita at Manpur police station in Indore rural. Shah then approached the Supreme Court. On Monday, the Court also questioned the delay in action by the state government and said that people expect the administration to act fairly. "The High Court has done its duty. Now it is the State's turn," the bench said. The court stopped short of passing directions against Shah personally but said that the minister should reflect on "how to redeem" himself. "This was such an emotive issue for our soldiers. We are proud of them. They are on the frontlines. The least we can do is respect them. The entire nation is ashamed of you," the Court said....