Today, On 16th October, India’s Attorney General R. Venkataramani has approved criminal contempt proceedings against Advocate Rakesh Kishore, who tried to throw a shoe at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai in the Supreme Court last week.
India’s Attorney General R. Venkataramani approved the start of criminal contempt proceedings against Advocate Rakesh Kishore, who attempted to throw a shoe at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai in the courtroom last week.
Senior Advocate Vikas Singh, President of the Supreme Court Bar Association, along with Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, brought the issue before a bench led by Justice Surya Kant, the second most senior judge, requesting that the criminal contempt case be scheduled for hearing.
Singh alerted the bench that the Attorney General had granted the necessary sanction, a fact confirmed by the Solicitor General.
Advocate Singh said,
“I have taken the consent of the Attorney General and seeking a listing tomorrow,”
SG said,
“Learned AG has given consent, I would also join my learned friend and request your lordship to take up the contempt. It is constitutional integrity which is under question,”
The matter was brought before a Bench led by Justice Surya Kant, with Senior Advocate and SCBA President Vikas Singh speaking on behalf of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA).
He was supported by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
Singh informed the Court that the SCBA Executive Committee convened shortly after the incident and unanimously resolved to retract its previous resolution, calling the act “condemnable.”
He noted,
“The matter is all over social media,”
And emphasized that the incident has tarnished the institution’s reputation.
Solicitor General Mehta confirmed that Attorney General R. Venkataramani had agreed to initiate contempt proceedings, expressing concern over the trend of online approval for violent actions within court premises.
He remarked,
“Some people are glorifying this act, saying it should’ve been done long back.”
Justice Surya Kant acknowledged the public outrage, noting that the Chief Justice had shown “magnanimity,” which reflects the institution’s strength and maturity.
He stated,
“Violence can never be justified,”
Also added,
“But once such proceedings begin, it becomes a spectacle. Everything turns into a saleable item on social media.”
Senior Advocate Vikas Singh urged the Court to consider issuing a John Doe order to prevent the glorification of the incident online.
He remarked,
“Even Lord Vishnu would never endorse violence. What he did is not just an affront to the Court but an insult to the God he invoked.”
Justice Joymalya Bagchi pointed out that the dignity of the institution relies on the conduct of its members.
He praised the Hon’ble CJI for his spirit in downplaying the incident, cautioning that reopening a settled issue might only amplify the noise created by those who thrive on it.
Justice Bagchi stated,
“The CJI has already brushed it aside as an act of an irresponsible citizen. We must ask if reopening a matter already given closure is necessary especially when the court is overburdened. The few minutes we spend here could decide bail for those in jail,”
And further noted,
“We’ve become money-spinning ventures.”
Mehta highlighted that past missed opportunities to take decisive action had emboldened certain individuals.
He stated,
“Social media runs on algorithms that promote hate and anger. People think they’re using social media, but in reality, they’re the product,”
In response, Justice Kant remarked,
“We are the product and consumer both.”
Justice Bagchi added that online algorithms reward outrage, asserting,
“When such incidents are discussed, they get monetised. Even this very mentioning will be monetised.”
Justice Surya Kant assured that the Bench understood the concerns but advised caution.
Singh pressed for immediate action, to which Justice Kant replied,
“Let’s see what happens in a week.”
The Bench will revisit the matter after the Court reconvenes following the Diwali break on October 27.
Additionally, on October 9, Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai made a rare public statement regarding the attempted shoe attack on him in the Supreme Court on October 6, characterizing the incident as shocking but one that the Bench now regards as a “forgotten chapter.”
During court proceedings, CJI Gavai expressed,
“My learned brother and I were very shocked with what happened… for us it is a forgotten chapter,”
The SCBA terminated the temporary membership of Advocate Rakesh Kishore, stating that it had taken “serious note of the grave misconduct” attributed to him.
The SCBA’s Executive Committee unanimously condemned Kishore’s actions as “reprehensible, disorderly, and intemperate,” declaring that such behavior was “utterly unbecoming of an officer of the Court” and constituted a “serious breach of professional ethics, decorum, and the dignity of the Supreme Court of India.”
Earlier, A Supreme Court lawyer has written to the Hon’ble Attorney General for India seeking consent to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against Advocate Rakesh Kishore.
The petition comes after Mr. Kishore allegedly removed his shoes and attempted to hurl one towards the Chief Justice of India, BR Gavai, inside Court No.1 on October 6, 2025.
This incident generated significant outrage nationwide, and the assailant, identified as 72-year-old Rakesh Kishore, was subsequently handed over to the Delhi Police.
During police interrogation, Kishore showed no signs of remorse and referenced a recent Supreme Court ruling to justify his actions.
Earlier, A shocking incident occurred inside the Supreme Court of India on 6th October, when advocate Rakesh Kishore attempted to throw a shoe at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai during court proceedings.
The 71-year-old lawyer, a resident of Mayur Vihar and a registered member of the Supreme Court Bar Association since 2011, removed his sports shoe and hurled it toward the CJI.
The incident took place in Court No. 1 of the Supreme Court when a 71-year-old lawyer, Rakesh Kishore, tried to hurl his shoe towards the Chief Justice while proceedings were underway.
Kishore reportedly walked close to the dais where the judges were seated, removed his shoe, and attempted to throw it.
Alert security personnel inside the courtroom immediately intervened and stopped the attack. Kishore was quickly escorted outside and prevented from causing further disturbance.
Police officials later said that the lawyer was upset with remarks made by the Chief Justice while hearing a plea connected to the restoration of a seven-foot-tall damaged Lord Vishnu idol in the Khajuraho Temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi strongly condemned the shocking incident inside the Supreme Court where Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai faced an attempted attack.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Modi said,
“Spoke to Chief Justice of India, Justice BR Gavai Ji. The attack on him earlier today in the Supreme Court premises has angered every Indian. There is no place for such reprehensible acts in our society.”
Modi also praised the calmness and dignity with which Justice Gavai handled the situation.
Read Attachment