The Delhi Police have released 71-year-old lawyer Rakesh Kishore, who attempted to throw a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai during working hours at the Supreme Court on Monday. According to officials, Kishore was released after the Supreme Court registry declined to press charges against him.
Kishore had entered Court No. 1 and allegedly tried to hurl a shoe toward the CJI-led bench. He was immediately restrained by security staff and escorted out of the courtroom. While being taken away, he was heard shouting, “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahega Hindustan.”
Questioned for three hours, then released
After the failed attempt, Kishore was handed over to the Delhi Police. He was interrogated for nearly three hours before being released. Authorities stated that no official complaint had been filed, and hence no legal action was taken.
Kishore was upset over remarks made by CJI Gavai while dismissing a plea seeking restoration of a seven-foot-tall beheaded idol of Lord Vishnu from the Javari temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh, news agency ANI reported citing familiar sources.
During the hearing, the Chief Justice had remarked that the petitioner should “seek remedy by praying to Lord Vishnu” after declining to entertain the petition.
While refusing to hear the case, the top court observed that the issue concerned a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI). The bench noted that the ASI was the appropriate authority to handle such matters, not the judiciary.
CJI Gavai’s calm response to the incident
Reacting to the courtroom incident, Chief Justice Gavai told The Indian Express that he instructed the lawyer arguing before him to “just ignore it.” “I am not distracted by all this. You also don’t be distracted and proceed further with the case,” he said.
The CJI added that he was unharmed and largely unaware of the object’s trajectory. “I only heard the sound. Maybe it fell on some table or somewhere,” he said. “I only heard him say, ‘Maine Gavai saab ke taraf pheka tha.’ Perhaps what he threw landed somewhere else and he was trying to explain.”