In shocking act, lawyer tries to hurl shoe at CJI Gavai over ‘insult of Sanatan’

An elderly advocate on Monday attempted to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India BR Gavai during proceedings in the Supreme Court over alleged insult of Sanatan.

The dramatic incident unfolded at 11.35 am while CJI Gavai was conducting proceedings in the court no. 1 when the advocate--later identified as 71-year-old Rakesh Kishore--went to the dais and attempted to remove his shoe with the intent of throwing it at the CJI.

The security personnel present in the courtroom acted with alacrity and nabbed him before he could hurl the shoe and escorted him out, eyewitnesses said. “‘Sanatan ka apmaan nahi sahenge’ (we will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan),” Kishore was heard shouting while being removed from the court. He was said to have been upset with the CJI’s recent remarks asking a petitioner demanding restoration of an idol of Lord Vishnu at the temple complex at Khajuraho to ask the deity to do something.

Unfazed by the ugly turn of events in his courtroom, CJI Gavai remained composed and went on with the court proceedings. “Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me,” the CJI said, asking lawyers to continue with their arguments.

Later, the Delhi Police released Kishore, a resident of Mayur Vihar-1 Extension in East Delhi, after interrogation as the Supreme Court Secretary General chose not to press any charges against him.

Within hours, the Bar Council of India (BCI), which regulates the legal profession in the country, ordered immediate interim suspension of the advocate’s licence.

BCI chairperson Manan Kumar Mishra said Kishore’s act was “prima facie inconsistent with the dignity of the court” and in clear violation of the professional conduct rules prescribed under the Advocates Act, 1961, and Bar Council of India Rules.

The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) condemned the attack by Kishore, a temporary member of the association, and said it’s contemplating an appropriate disciplinary action against him.

The Supreme Court Advocates-on-Record Association (SCAORA) passed a unanimous resolution strongly condemning the incident. Terming it a “direct assault on the independence of the judiciary” that undermined public faith in the justice delivery system, the SCAORA unequivocally condemned it as a “cowardly and disrespectful act”.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta also condemned the incident. "Today's incident in the Chief Justice's court is unfortunate and deserves condemnation. This is the result of misinformation on social media. It is really heartening that the CJI reacted with magnanimity and majesty of the highest court of the country. I only hope that this magnanimity is not treated by others as the weakness of the institution," Mehta said.

While refusing to entertain a plea relating to the restoration of a seven-foot beheaded idol of Lord Vishnu at Khajuraho, CJI Gavai last month told a petitioner to “ask the deity itself to do something”.

“Go and ask the deity itself to do something now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. So go and pray now. It’s an archaeological site and the ASI needs to give permission, etc,” the CJI had said.

His comments caused a social media furore with many accusing him of hurting religious sentiments of Hindus. Later, the CJI clarified, "I respect all religions...This happened on social media.”

Meanwhile, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the incident reflected a “deeply disturbing effort to intimidate and humiliate” the country’s top judge. In a post on X, he said the past decade had witnessed a surge of “hate, fanaticism and bigotry”, which had begun to erode basic democratic institutions.

The CPM called the act a reflection of the “Manuvadi and communal venom” allegedly injected into society by Hindutva forces. The CPM alleged that the incident was not just about individual misconduct, but a result of the BJP’s promotion of casteist and communal ideas, which had emboldened such acts.

CPI general secretary D Raja also called the incident a direct assault on the judiciary, saying it was a challenge for the courts to uphold the Constitution in the face of right-wing intimidation. He said it was no coincidence that a Dalit CJI was being openly targeted and warned that such a mindset must be exposed and defeated.