Supreme Court Questions Delay in Sanction to Prosecute Minister Kunwar Vijay Shah

The Supreme Court was on Monday informed that while the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing Madhya Pradesh minister Kunwar Vijay Shah's remarks against Colonel Sofiya Qureshi has completed its investigation, the sanction to prosecute him remains pending before the competent authority, with the State government's recommendation awaiting a decision at the Governor's level. [Kunwar Vijay Shah vs The High Court of Madhya Pradesh and Anr.] A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and V Mohana accordingly posted the matter for a later date, noting that a chargesheet could only be filed once sanction was granted."The report states that the investigation is complete and the report has been kept in sealed cover. However, the issue of sanction is still pending consideration before the competent authority," the Court said in its order, adding that as soon as sanction is granted, the chargesheet shall be submitted before the court of competent jurisdiction.CJI Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, Justice V MohanaAppearing for Shah, Senior Advocate Maninder Singh submitted that his client had publicly apologised the very next day and urged that the apology be taken into account.CJI Kant responded that the investigation report would ultimately have to go before the competent authority for a decision on sanction."Let the Governor take a call," Justice Bagchi remarked.The CJI asked Additional Solicitor General (ASG) KM Nat