Lawyer attempts to hurl shoe at CJI Gavai inside Supreme Court, says 'won't tolerate insult to Sanatan'

Chief Justice of India B R Gavai

A lawyer tried to attack Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai in the Supreme Court on Monday.

According to the Bar and Bench report,  the incident occurred when the CJI was hearing mentioning of cases by lawyers. The lawyer reportedly went near the dais and attempted to remove his shoe and throw it at the judge. However, security personnel present in court intervened and escorted the lawyer out.

The report stated that while walking out, the lawyer was heard saying, "sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge."

The CJI remained unfazed and asked the lawyers present in court to continue with their arguments. "Don't get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me," he said as quoted by the Bar and Bench report.

According to NDTV, the shoe-thrower had a proximity card that is provided to lawyers and clerks in the top court.

Delhi police told Indian Express that during the initial investigation, it came to the fore that the advocate was unhappy with the CJI’s remarks during a recent hearing of a plea seeking restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol in the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.

He made the comment related to the restoration of a 7-foot beheaded idol of Lord Vishnu at Khajuraho. While dismissing that case, he had said, “Go and ask the deity itself to do something now. You say you are a staunch devotee of Lord Vishnu. So go and pray now. It’s an archaeological site and ASI needs to give permission etc."

Gavai had said that the issue fell under the jurisdiction of the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), the CJI had said, “It’s an archaeological find, whether the ASI would permit such a thing to be done or not. There are various issues. In the meantime, if you are not averse to Shaivism, you can go and worship there. There is a very big linga of Shiva, one of the biggest in Khajuraho," he said.