Breaking: Questions arise over selective action in controversial speech cases, SIT yet to question Minister Vijay Shah

There is growing concern over the selective approach in controversial speech cases. In Haryana, the state government limited its investigation to just two social media posts in a case where Professor Ali Khan Mehmoodabad was swiftly arrested after a single post. In a separate case, the Bombay High Court recently reprimanded the Maharashtra government for arresting a 19-year-old student over a disputed post related to India and Pakistan, questioning why she was treated like a criminal. These instances are being compared to the case involving Madhya Pradesh minister Vijay Shah, who made a controversial statement about Kargil war martyr Captain Sofia. On May 11, he delivered the remark, and by May 14, the High Court had taken cognizance. An FIR was filed under IPC Sections 152, 196(1)(b), and 197(1)(c), and the Supreme Court ordered the formation of an SIT on May 19. Despite this, questions are being raised as the SIT has interrogated individuals who were on stage with Shah on May 11, but not Shah himself. Critics argue that had these serious charges been against a common citizen, they would likely have been arrested by now. The delay in recording the minister’s statement raises questions of accountability and fairness.