Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: An elderly man was taken into custody after he threw a shoe at Chief Justice of India BR Gavai inside the Supreme Court on Friday morning. The shoe did not reach the bench, and the Chief Justice remained composed, stating, “I am the last person to be affected by such things,” before continuing the hearing.
Shoe Thrown Amid Slogans In Courtroom
The incident occurred just as the Chief Justice began hearing the first matter of the day. Eyewitnesses reported that the man raised slogans saying, “India won’t tolerate Sanatan’s insult,” before hurling the shoe toward the bench. Security personnel acted swiftly, restraining the man and removing him from the courtroom.
The individual was found carrying a proximity card typically issued to lawyers and clerks at the Supreme Court, under the name Kishore Rakesh. His motives are currently under investigation by security agencies. Despite the disruption, Chief Justice Gavai instructed the court registry not to take any punitive action against the man.
Reaction From Legal Community
Senior advocate Indira Jaising condemned the act, calling for a thorough 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 ideological attacks will not be tolerated,” she posted on X. She also commended the Chief Justice for maintaining composure.
Incident Follows Social Media Row Over Vishnu Remark
The shoe-throwing episode comes days after Chief Justice Gavai faced sharp criticism online for remarks made during a hearing related to a petition on the reconstruction of a 7-foot beheaded idol of Lord Vishnu in Khajuraho. Reportedly, he had said, “Go and ask the deity himself to do something.”
The comment was widely criticized on social media as disrespectful, prompting the Chief Justice to clarify that his remarks were misrepresented. “I respect all religions,” he later stated.
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta remarked that social media often exaggerates issues, saying, “Every action has a disproportionate social media reaction.” Senior advocate Kapil Sibal added, “We suffer this every day. Social media is an unruly horse, and there is no way to tame it.”
