Lawyer throws shoe at Indian chief justice over remarks about Hindu deity

A 71-year-old lawyer reportedly threw a shoe at Chief Justice of India B. R. Gavai inside the Supreme Court on Monday morning, prompting an immediate response from security and the Delhi Police.

According to Indian media reports, the police identified the suspect as advocate Rakesh Kishore, who reportedly removed his sports shoes and threw them toward CJI Gavai at around 11:35 a.m. during proceedings in Courtroom No. 1. 

“He was quickly apprehended by security personnel and handed over to the Supreme Court’s security unit,” a senior Delhi police officer said. “He resides in Mayur Vihar and is a registered member of the Supreme Court Bar Association,” the officer added.

Preliminary findings suggest that Kishore was upset over remarks made by the Chief Justice during a recent hearing related to a plea seeking the restoration of a Hindu idol at a temple in Madhya Pradesh.

Despite the disturbance, CJI Gavai remained composed and instructed the lawyers present to carry on with the proceedings. As security escorted Kishore out, he reportedly shouted, “Sanatan dharma ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan” (India will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan dharma).

CJI Gavai had earlier presided over the two-judge bench with Justice K. Vinod Chandran on September 16, when the court dismissed the plea regarding the temple idol, remarking, “This is purely publicity interest litigation… Go and ask the deity himself to do something.”