The head of the Congress party, Mallikarjun Kharge, expressed strong condemnation on Monday, October 6, 2025, regarding a disturbing incident involving Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai. Kharge labeled the incident as shameful and a “mindless act” that sadly illustrates how deeply hate and fanaticism have permeated society.
In what was a shocking breach of court decorum, a 71-year-old lawyer reportedly attempted to hurl a shoe at CJI Gavai during a live court proceeding. Thankfully, security personnel quickly intervened and stopped the individual.
“Such an attempt to attack the Honorable Chief Justice of India within the Supreme Court premises is unprecedented, utterly shameful, and abhorrent. This is a direct assault on the dignity of our Judiciary and the fundamental principle of the rule of law,” Kharge stated in a post on social media platform X.
He further highlighted the distressing nature of the attack, especially given that a sitting judge, who ascended to the nation’s highest judicial office through unwavering merit, integrity, and perseverance, was targeted in such a manner.
“This deplorable act clearly aims to intimidate and humiliate an individual who has tirelessly worked to dismantle social barriers and uphold the Constitution,” the Congress president emphasized.
Kharge concluded, “Such a thoughtless act undeniably demonstrates the extent to which hate, fanaticism, and bigotry have unfortunately consumed our society over the past decade.” He affirmed, “On behalf of the Indian National Congress, I condemn this attack in the strongest possible terms. The safety and security of our Judiciary are paramount. It is imperative that justice and reason prevail over intimidation.”
Remarkably, despite this unsettling occurrence, Chief Justice Gavai maintained his composure and proceeded with the scheduled hearings. He remarked, “Do not be sidetracked by any of this. We are not distracted. These kinds of incidents do not affect me.”
Eyewitness accounts from several lawyers confirm that the incident transpired when a bench, consisting of the CJI and Justice K. Vinod Chandran, was hearing the mentioning of various cases.
The lawyer, later identified as Rakesh Kishor from Mayur Vihar, approached the dais, took off his shoe, and attempted to throw it in the direction of the judges before being apprehended and escorted out by vigilant security personnel.