A shoe hurled at India's Chief Justice BR Gavai has sent shockwaves across the country's political and judiciary systems. The attack, which happened while the court was in session, has been condemned by nearly everyone across party lines.
There were no legal consequences for the assailant, who was identified as a 71-year-old lawyer Rakesh Kishore. But he was punished by the Bar Council with a swift suspension.
Kishore is now barred from "appearing, acting, pleading and practising in any court, tribunal or authority in India".
India's top political brass, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, condemned the incident.
PM Modi called Chief Justice BR Gavai, condemned the attack and said "there is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society." He even appreciated the calm displayed by Justice Gavai in the face of such a situation.
"The attack on the Chief Justice of India is an assault on the dignity of our judiciary and the spirit of our Constitution," Gandhi wrote on X. "Such hatred has no place in our nation and must be condemned," he added.
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge said an attempt to attack the CJI is unprecedented, shameful and abhorrent. It is an attack on the dignity of the country's judiciary and the rule of law, he said.
CJI Gavai on shoe attack
Police sources said a note, containing the slogan "Sanatan dharma ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan" (India will not tolerate insults to Sanatan Dharma), was recovered from his possession.
The CJI, who remained unfazed during and after the unprecedented incident during the court proceedings, asked the court officials and the security personnel present inside the courtroom to just ignore it and to let off the errant lawyer identified as Rakesh Kishore with a warning.
“On the basis of prima facie material, it appears that at about 11.35 am on 6 October 2025, in Court No. 1 of the Supreme Court of India, you i.e. Advocate Rakesh Kishore, enrolled with the Bar Council of Delhi removed your sports shoes and attempted to hurl them towards the Hon'ble Chief Justice of India during ongoing proceedings, whereupon you were detained by security,” the Bar Council said.
