Formed on the orders of the Supreme Court, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has started its probe into the controversial remarks made by Madhya Pradesh Minister Vijay Shah, one of its members said on Saturday.

As part of the investigation, the three-member SIT has begun meeting people in Raykundda village near Mhow in Indore district, where Shah made the objectionable comments aimed at Colonel Sofiya Qureshi on May 12, police sources said.

The SIT is headed by the Sagar Zone Inspector General of Police (IG) Pramod Verma. Other members of the SIT are Special Armed Forces DIG Kalyan Chakravarthy, and Dindori Superintendent of Police Vahini Singh.

The SIT member said, "We launched our investigation the day before yesterday (Thursday)." However, he refused to elaborate on other details, like when they will question the MP minister.

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On Monday, a bench of Justices Surya Kant and N Kotiswar Singh ordered a three-member SIT probe into the matter. Earlier on May 14, the Manpur police had registered an FIR against the minister on the direction of the Madhya Pradesh High Court. The High Court's direction came after it took suo motu cognisance of the "crass remarks".

A police official from Indore said that the FIR has already been handed over to the SIT.

The SIT will have to file its first status report by May 28 as per the directions of the apex court. During the hearing, the top court observed that the minister's remarks had brought “shame” to the nation.

The top court also rejected his apology, terming it either 'crocodile tears' or an attempt to wriggle out of legal proceedings. The minister later released a video with another apology, calling his statement a 'linguistic mistake'.

On May 12, Shah was addressing a public event in Raykundda village promoting ‘Halma', a tribal tradition of collective labour and community. During his address, he said, "For those who wiped sindoor off our daughters' forehead... we sent their sister to teach them a lesson." 

(With PTI Inputs)

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