The direction came during a hearing on Monday, when the Supreme Court expressed displeasure over the prolonged inaction of the state government despite completion of the investigation. The matter was heard after a gap of nearly six months by a bench comprising Chief Justice of India Suryakant, Justice Dipankar Dutta and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.
The court noted that a Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted to probe the matter, had already submitted its final report and sought government approval to prosecute Shah. The bench observed that the report had been pending with the state since August 19, 2025, without any decision. “The law places an obligation on you to take a decision. Now it is January,” the Chief Justice remarked, questioning the delay.
During the hearing, the court opened the sealed SIT report and recorded that the investigating agency had found sufficient grounds to seek sanction for prosecution. The state government informed the court that no action had been taken as the matter was sub judice. Rejecting this explanation, the bench directed the state to act in accordance with law and decide on granting sanction within a stipulated timeframe.
Senior advocate Maninder Singh, appearing for Vijay Shah, argued that the minister had already apologised for his remarks. The court, however, dismissed the submission, stating that there was no apology on record and that it was “too late” to rely on such a defence.
With Chief Minister Dr Mohan Yadav currently in Davos, Switzerland, attending the World Economic Forum until January 23, sources indicated that the state’s decision on prosecution is likely to be taken after his return.
Vijay Shah has been no stranger to controversy. In an earlier episode, he was compelled to resign from the cabinet following remarks related to the wife of former Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. More recently, he drew criticism for comments linked to the Ladli Behna scheme during a programme in Ratlam district.
The issue has also escalated politically. On Tuesday, Congress workers staged a protest in Bhopal demanding Shah’s removal from the cabinet. State Congress general secretary Amit Sharma led a symbolic demonstration, accusing the government of shielding the minister despite repeated controversies.
With the Supreme Court’s deadline now in place, the coming weeks are expected to determine whether the case proceeds to trial, potentially marking a critical turning point in Vijay Shah’s political and legal future.
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