**Lawyer Attempts to Hurl Shoe at CJI BR Gavai Inside Supreme Court, Says He Acted Under ‘Divine Force’**
*New Delhi:* Rakesh Kishore, a 71-year-old lawyer, attempted to hurl his shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai inside the Supreme Court on Monday. Speaking to the media, Kishore said that he acted under a “divine force” and expressed that he has “no remorse” over his action, according to a report by Hindustan Times.
Kishore further stated that he is “ready to face jail” and clarified that he holds no affiliation with any political party. He also revealed that his family is unhappy with his actions. “It would have been better if I was in jail. My family is very unhappy with what I did. They are unable to understand,” he told the media.
The attack reportedly stemmed from CJI Gavai’s remarks about “Lord Vishnu” made during a hearing last month. Kishore shared that these comments affected him deeply, saying he could not sleep properly after hearing them.
Meenesh Dubey of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) commented that Kishore appeared to have “no guilt” and even “refused to apologise.” Dubey noted that Kishore has been a temporary member of the Bar Council since 2011.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Kishore insisted that he was sober at the time of the incident. “I was hurt… I was not inebriated; this was my reaction to his action… I am not fearful. I don’t regret what happened,” he said.
### Why Did Kishore Attack CJI Gavai?
The incident is linked to a controversy arising during a hearing of a petition filed by a person named Rakesh Dalal. Dalal had sought directions to restore an idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari temple, claiming that it was mutilated during the Mughal invasions. He demanded that authorities restore the idol.
A bench comprising CJI Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran observed that the matter fell under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The CJI remarked, “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.”
Kishore criticized the court’s response, saying, “A PIL was filed in the Court of CJI on 16th Sept. The CJI mocked it and said – go and pray to the idol and tell it to restore its own head… When Nupur Sharma’s matter came up before the Court, the Court said that she vitiated the atmosphere….When a matter related to our Sanatan Dharma comes up, SC passes such orders.”
He added, “Don’t provide relief to the petitioner, but don’t mock him either… I was hurt… I was not inebriated; this was my reaction to his action… I am not fearful. I don’t regret what happened.”
### PM Modi Condemns Incident
Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the incident promptly. On his X (formerly Twitter) post, PM Modi said, “Spoke to Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai Ji. The attack on him earlier today in the Supreme Court premises has angered every Indian. There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society. It is utterly condemnable.”
He also praised CJI Gavai’s composure, stating, “I appreciated the calm displayed by Justice Gavai in the face of such a situation. It highlights his commitment to the values of justice and strengthening the spirit of our Constitution.”
Following the incident, the Bar Council of India took swift action and suspended Rakesh Kishore’s advocate license.
https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/ready-to-go-to-jail-lawyer-who-hurled-shoe-at-cji-br-gavai-shows-no-remorse-says-he-acted-under-divine-force
