Lawyer Throws Shoe At Chief Justice During Court Proceedings

A dramatic scene unfolded in India’s Supreme Court on Monday when a lawyer, identified as Rakesh Kishore, threw a shoe at Chief Justice BR Gavai during court proceedings in New Delhi.

The outburst reportedly followed comments made by the Chief Justice about a Hindu deity, Lord Vishnu, which had earlier created controversy.

According to a report by BBC, the shoe “brushed against the chief justice and another justice before falling behind them,” was described as a serious public insult and a major breach of courtroom security.

As security officials quickly restrained him, Kishore shouted, “India won’t tolerate insult to Sanatan Dharma [Hinduism],” before being escorted out of the courtroom. He was later suspended from legal practice.

One of the lawyers present, Advocate Ravi Shanker Jha, confirmed the incident, saying, “He threw his shoe and raised his hand to indicate that he had done it. After he was apprehended, the Chief Justice calmly asked lawyers to continue their arguments.”

Another eyewitness, Anas Tanwir, described Chief Justice Gavai’s composure during the tense moment, noting that he “remained calm throughout the incident.”

Following the attack, Indian authorities confirmed that no criminal charges would be filed against Kishore.

In a later interview with The Print, Kishore said his action was in response to what he called the Chief Justice’s “disrespectful remarks” about Lord Vishnu. He referenced a recent case dismissed by a bench led by Justice Gavai, in which the judge had told petitioners seeking the reconstruction of a Vishnu idol, “Go and ask the deity himself to do something.”

The remarks drew widespread criticism from Hindu groups, accusing the Chief Justice of mocking religious beliefs. Justice Gavai later clarified that he holds respect for all religions, according to reports by the Press Trust of India (PTI).

Kishore told The Print he had been deeply disturbed since the court’s ruling. “He not only refused to accept the prayer but made fun of Lord Vishnu. I haven’t been able to sleep since 16 September,” he said.

Reacting to the development, Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack as “utterly condemnable,” saying such behavior had “angered every Indian.” Modi also reached out to Justice Gavai, emphasizing that “there is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society.”

Throwing a shoe in public is widely considered a grave act of disrespect in India and other parts of the world.
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