Suspended advocate Rakesh Kishore tried to throw a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai inside the Supreme Court on Monday, following the dismissal of a plea seeking reconstruction of a Lord Vishnu idol at Khajuraho’s Javari Temple. Kishore, restrained by security personnel, said he “didn’t regret” his actions, claiming he was hurt by what he perceived as the CJI mocking the plea.
The petition, filed on September 16, sought directions to restore the damaged idol. The CJI and Justice K Vinod Chandran dismissed it as a “publicity interest litigation”, noting the matter fell under the Archaeological Survey of India’s jurisdiction.
During the courtroom incident, Kishore shouted “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge” while being dragged away. The Bar Council of India suspended his license, and he was released by Delhi Police after verification.
The attack drew strong condemnation from the judiciary and legal community, which described it as a serious affront to the independence of the judiciary. CJI Gavai, maintaining composure, continued with court proceedings, emphasizing that he never made the comments attributed to him on social media.