00Advocate compares CJI’s academic background with attacker’s; Bhupesh Baghel demands immediate action against govt counsel00
Raipur:
A controversy has erupted in Chhattisgarh after a government counsel, Advocate Satish Gupta, took to social media to seemingly justify the attempted shoe-throwing incident targeting Chief Justice of India (CJI) B.R. Gavai in the Supreme Court.
Gupta, a lawyer practicing at the Bilaspur High Court, posted a controversial message comparing the academic qualifications of the accused lawyer, Rakesh Kishore, with those of CJI Gavai.
In his social media post, Gupta wrote,
“That historic moment when the shoe flew towards the CJI. Rakesh showed amazing marksmanship at the age of 71. Be mindful — Advocate Rakesh Kishore is an M.Sc. Gold Medallist, and Chief Justice B.R. Gavai is a third-class B.A. pass.”
‘Attack on Dalit Dignity’: Bhupesh Baghel
The comparison and the apparent support for the attack drew sharp criticism from former Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel.
Baghel stated on X that the government lawyer’s action “is not only a mockery of the law but also an insult to the Scheduled Caste (SC) community.” CJI Gavai is the third judge from the SC community to serve as the Chief Justice of India.
Baghel demanded immediate action from Chief Minister Vishnudeo Sai, asking,
“If the BJP continues to keep this lawyer in his post, should it not be assumed that they are protecting this mindset?”
He called the incident “not just a shoe, but an attack on Dalit honour.”
Other national Congress leaders, including Supriya Shrinate and Ragini Nayak, also questioned the BJP’s silence on the matter, calling the attack on the CJI an assault on the system meant to secure justice for Dalits.
The Entire Matter
On 6 October, advocate Rakesh Kishore attempted to throw a shoe at CJI Gavai inside the Supreme Court while the Bench was hearing a case. The shoe did not reach the CJI.
Security personnel detained the lawyer, who shouted slogans like,
“Hindustan will not tolerate the insult of Sanatan.”
The Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) immediately cancelled the lawyer’s licence, and the Bar Council of India (BCI) also suspended him, ending his membership with immediate effect.
The police released the lawyer after about three hours of questioning, as Supreme Court officials did not file a formal complaint.
The accused lawyer, Rakesh Kishore, later told the media on 7 October that he was deeply hurt by a comment made by the CJI about Lord Vishnu and expressed no regret for his action. He stated that his action was a “reaction” to the CJI’s remark.
