A day after attempting to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) Justice BR Gavai inside the Supreme Court, 71-year-old lawyer Rakesh Kishore has defended his actions, claiming he was deeply hurt by remarks made by the CJI during a previous hearing related to a religious matter. Following the incident, the Bar Council of India suspended Kishore’s licence with immediate effect.

The dramatic episode unfolded on Monday during the mentioning of cases before a bench led by the CJI. Eyewitnesses said Kishore suddenly approached the dais, removed his shoe, and tried to throw it at the judges. Security personnel quickly intervened and prevented the attack.

Speaking to ANI, Kishore said his actions stemmed from emotional distress over what he called the CJI’s mockery of a public interest litigation (PIL) related to a religious issue. He referred to comments made by Justice Gavai during a hearing, where the judge reportedly said, “Go pray to the idol, ask the idol to restore its own head.” Kishore said such remarks hurt his religious sentiments and questioned the judiciary’s approach to matters concerning Sanatan Dharma.

Earlier this month, Justice Gavai, while delivering a lecture in Mauritius, had reaffirmed that India's democracy is guided by the rule of law, not the "rule of the bulldozer". He referenced a ruling he authored in 2024, which held that arbitrary demolitions bypassing legal process violated citizens’ fundamental rights under Article 21.

Kishore took issue with these remarks, defending state action in cases like Yogi Adityanath’s bulldozer drive against illegal encroachments. He further alleged judicial bias in cases involving other communities, citing the Haldwani encroachment case and the court’s response to remarks made by former BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma.

Denying any intent driven by intoxication or impulsiveness, Kishore said his act was a reaction to what he perceived as long-standing neglect and bias against Hindu traditions like Jallikattu and Dahi Handi. He also raised questions about CJI Gavai’s background, claiming that the judge had renounced Hinduism to follow Buddhism, questioning his Dalit identity.

Despite widespread condemnation, Kishore said he had no regrets. "I am not fearful of anything. Nor do I regret what happened or what didn’t happen," he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi condemned the attack, saying it had angered every Indian. He spoke to the CJI, praised his composure, and said the incident was a reminder of the need to uphold the dignity of constitutional institutions.

The Supreme Court Bar Association also issued a strong resolution denouncing Kishore’s conduct.