An advocate attempted to throw an object at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai during a session of the Supreme Court on Monday morning, reportedly shouting, “India will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan Dharma,” before being swiftly removed by security personnel.
The incident caused a brief disruption in the Supreme Court proceedings before operations resumed. According to witnesses, the man, later identified as Rakesh Kishore, yelled, “India will not tolerate disrespect towards Sanatan Dharma,” as he was escorted from the courtroom.
Accounts differ regarding the object he tried to throw—some witnesses reported it was a shoe, while others identified it as a roll of paper.
Speculation suggests that Kishore was motivated by Chief Justice Gavai’s remarks from September 2025, in which he stated, “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.” This statement was made while dismissing a petition to restore a damaged Lord Vishnu idol at the Javari Temple in Khajuraho, Madhya Pradesh.
Joining Chief Justice Gavai on the bench was Justice K. Vinod Chandran, who apologized to Justice Chandran, clarifying that the incident was aimed solely at Gavai. Despite the disturbance, Chief Justice Gavai maintained his composure, instructing the next lawyer to continue and asserting, “Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me.”
The Delhi DCP and Supreme Court security officials are currently investigating the matter.
Senior advocate Indira Jaising referred to the episode as a “blatant casteist attack on the Supreme Court of India” and called for a united condemnation from all judges, emphasizing that such ideological assaults “will not be tolerated by the court.” She insisted on a thorough investigation and that Kishore should be identified and held accountable.
Jaising commended Chief Justice Gavai for his dignified handling of the situation, stating that he continued judicial work without visible disturbance.
Journalist Rajdeep Sardesai remarked on social media, expressing concern that “a culture of caste hatred and religious intolerance is being normalized,” which is contributing to violence, with social media and toxic television debates being partly responsible.
Former TMC Rajya Sabha MP Jawhar Sircar characterized the incident as an “unprecedented fascist act,” attributing it to “high-caste Manuvadi Hinduism.”
The incident is currently under investigation, with officials looking into the implications of this outburst in a courtroom setting.
Tags: CJI B.R. Gavai, Supreme Court incident, Sanatan Dharma, lawyer attack, India tolerance
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