Madhya Pradesh sets up SIT, tribal affairs minister Vijay Shah skips cabinet meet

BHOPAL: Madhya Pradesh minister for tribal affairs Vijay Shah - who faces a Supreme Court-ordered probe for his crass remarks on Colonel Sofiya Qureshi - was not seen at the state cabinet meeting in Indore on Tuesday even as a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted to probe the controversial remarks.

The SIT was set up by DGP Kailash Makwana on Monday night, within hours of SC's directions. It comprises IG-Sagar range Pramod Verma, a 2001 batch IPS officer, DIG-SAF Kalyan Chakraborty (2010 batch), and Dindori SP Vahini Singh (2014 batch). The team will submit a status report by May 28.

On Tuesday, Shah's absence was all the more glaring as the meeting was specially held in Indore in honour of the 300th birth anniversary of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar. Ministers posed for pictures with the historic Rajwada Palace as the backdrop. Shah was the lone one missing.

Asked why he was absent from the cabinet meeting, state BJP president VD Sharma said, "Sometimes ministers do not attend meetings for certain reasons. Vijay Shah might have had such a reason."

"He (Shah) said something which is before Supreme Court. SC has given an order, an SIT has been constituted. After the report is submitted, the Supreme Court will hear the case. Whatever the apex court's decision, the state govt and the party are committed to it. SC's order will be followed. The matter is sub judice, it is not advisable to speak on this now," Sharma added.