Who is Rakesh Kishore, advocate who hurled shoe at CJI Gavai in Supreme Court

Rakesh Kishore

Advocate Rakesh Kishore is in the headlines after he allegedly attempted to hurl his shoes towards chief justice of India BR Gavai during a regular hearing in Supreme Court on Monday.

The unprecedented incident took place at around 11:35 am in the courtroom, when the 71-year-old advocate removed his sports shoes and allegedly tried to throw them towards the Bench presided over by the CJI.

Before being escorted out, the advocate reportedly shouted, “‘Sanatan ka apman nahi sahega Hindustan’ (India will not tolerate the disrespect of the Sanatana Dharma)”.

Who is Rakesh Kishore?

Rakesh Kishore, a resident of Delhi’s Mayur Vihar area, had enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi back in the year 2009, according to multiple reports.

Kishore was detained immediately after the incident. He was found carrying identity cards of the Supreme Court Bar Association, Shahdara Bar Association and the Bar Council of Delhi, according to a report by Bar and Bench.

Acting swiftly, the Bar Council of India on Monday ordered the immediate suspension of Kishore for his conduct in the Supreme Court.

Upon entering Court No. 1 on Monday, the lawyer had attempted to throw a shoe at the CJI-led bench. He was immediately apprehended by the security personnel and escorted out.

As per Delhi Police, Kishore was released after the Supreme Court registry declined to press charges against him.

He was reportedly questioned for three hours following the incident.

Attacker upset over CJI’s remarks?

The incident was reportedly linked to the lawyer’s anger over CJI Gavai’s remarks that came while dismissing a plea seeking restoration of a seven-foot-long beheaded structure of Lord Vishnu in the Javari temple in Khajuraho, MP.

CJI Gavai had, during the hearing of the matter, remarked that the petitioner seeking directions to restore the idol should go and seek the remedy by praying to Lord Vishnu, as the Court declined to entertain the same.

While refusing to hear the case, the top court opined that it is a dispute over a temple, which is a protected monument under the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), suggesting that the ASI is a more competent authority to intervene in this regard.

In an interaction with Hindustan Times, the lawyer said he has “no remorse” for his act and was “ready to face jail”, emphasising that he was not associated with any political party. “It would have been better if I was in jail. My family is very unhappy with what I did. They are unable to understand,” he was quoted in the HT report.

(With inputs from agency)