The accused was reportedly upset over recent remarks made by the CJI during a PIL hearing on the restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol at the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.

NEW DELHI — In a shocking incident, a 71-year-old advocate allegedly threw a shoe at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai during a hearing in Courtroom No. 1. The shoe however, did not reach the bench, and the man was immediately taken into custody.

The accused was reportedly upset over recent remarks made by the CJI during a PIL hearing on the restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol at the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.

Soon after the incident on Monday, Delhi Police arrested the accused, identified as Rakesh Kishore, who allegedly removed his shoes and hurled them at the CJI around 11:36 a.m.

As he was being escorted out, the advocate was heard shouting, “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge” (We will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan Dharma). Chief Justice B.R. Gavai remained composed and urged the lawyers in the courtroom to proceed with their arguments. “Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me,” he remarked.

Senior advocate Indira Jaising called for a thorough investigation into the incident. “The lawyer must be named, and legal action taken against him. This appears to be a blatant casteist attack on the Supreme Court of India. It deserves to be condemned by all judges of the Supreme Court by a united press statement that ideological attacks will not be tolerated by the court,” she said in a post on X.

Jaising also praised Chief Justice Gavai’s composure during the episode, noting, “Befitting the court’s dignity, CJI Gavai went about judicial work with no visible disturbance.”

This requires a detailed investigation. The lawyer must be named and legal action taken against him . This appears to be a blatant casteist attack on the Supreme Court of India. It deserves to be condemned by all judges of the Supreme Court by a united press statement that… https://t.co/8sOY5Wip4e — Indira Jaising (@IJaising) October 6, 2025

Attorney General should take action for contempt of court for an ideological castest attack on a secular court https://t.co/Fk4XrWTGOX — Indira Jaising (@IJaising) October 6, 2025

As per a Delhi Police official, the accused was picked up by the security personnel and handed over to the security unit of the Supreme Court. “He is a resident of the Mayur Vihar area and a registered member of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA),” the senior police officer said. The police is further investigating the entire case. — With inputs from agencies

New Delhi: A lawyer allegedly tried to hurl a shoe towards Chief Justice of India BR Gavai during proceedings in the Supreme Court on Monday, PTI reported, citing lawyers’ accounts.

The incident occurred when a Bench led by the CJI was hearing the mentioning of cases by lawyers.

The lawyer approached the dais, removed his shoe, and tried to throw it towards the judge.

Alert security personnel present inside the courtroom immediately intervened and prevented the attack. The lawyer was swiftly escorted out of the court premises.

As he was being taken away, the lawyer was heard shouting, “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge” (We will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan Dharma).

The CJI remained composed and urged lawyers present in the courtroom to continue with their arguments.

“Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me,” the Chief Justice remarked.

The apex court’s security unit has initiated an inquiry into the incident. Further details about the lawyer and possible motives are awaited, according to PTI.

Meanwhile, The Indian Express reported that the attacker was a 71-year-old lawyer, identified as Rakesh Kishore. The Delhi Police have reached the Supreme Court and have initiated a probe, the news house reported.

A senior police officer told TIE that the attacker has been handed over to the security unit of the top court. The person is a resident of Mayur Vihar in Delhi and a registered member of the Supreme Court Bar Association, the official said.

TIE also reports that the attacker was unhappy with the CJI’s recent remarks during a hearing of a plea seeking the restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol in the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh, which could be the motive behind the attack.

In a disturbing incident, a lawyer attempted to throw a shoe at Chief Justice BR Gavai this morning. The incident happened at the Chief Justice’s court, where the attempt was foiled by the security. Later while escorting him out of the court, he was heard saying ‘Sanatan ka apmaan nahi sahega,’ which means that the insult to Sanatan Dharma cannot be tolerated. According to the Delhi police, the advocate, identified as Rakesh Kishore, took out his sports shoes and threw them at CJI Gavai at around 11:35 am, during the proceedings in Court No 1. The Delhi DCP and Supreme Court security officials are currently questioning the accused.

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Why did Rakesh Kishore do this?

According to an Indian Express report, the initial investigation revealed that the 71-year-old advocate was unhappy with the CJI’s remarks during a recent hearing of a plea seeking the restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol in the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh. While being taken out of the court, the man reportedly said, “Sanatan dharma ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan”. Various news reports said that Rakesh is a resident of the Mayur Vihar area and a registered member of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)

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However, the CJI remained unfazed and asked the lawyers present in court to continue with their arguments. “Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me,” he said. The incident happened when the bench led by the CJI was hearing the mention of cases by lawyers.

CJI Gavai remarks on Lord Vishnu idol in Khajuraho

On September 16, the Supreme Court had dismissed a plea seeking directions to reconstruct and reinstall a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari Temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Khajuraho temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.

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“This is purely publicity interest litigation. Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation,” CJI Gavai had said.

“Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me,” the Chief Justice remarked.

“Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me,” the Chief Justice remarked. (File Photo | ANI)

NEW DELHI: In a shocking and bizzare incident, a 71-year-old advocate allegedly hurled a shoe at the Chief Justice of India (CJI), B R Gavai, during the proceedings in Court Number 1.

The accused was allegedly unhappy with recent remarks made by the CJI during a PIL seeking restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol in the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.

Soon after the incident happened on Monday, Delhi Police arrested the accused, identified as Rakesh Kishore, who allegedly took out his shoes and threw them at the CJI around 11.36 am.

As he was being taken away, the lawyer was heard shouting, “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge” (We will not tolerate insult of Sanatan Dharma). The CJI remained composed and urged lawyers present in the courtroom to continue with their arguments. “Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me,” the Chief Justice remarked.

As per a Delhi Police official, the accused was picked up by the security personnel and handed over to the security unit of the Supreme Court. “He is a resident of the Mayur Vihar area and a registered member of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA),” the senior police officer said. The police is further investigating the entire case.

(With inputs from PTI)