Explained: The Story of Rakesh Kishore, the Lawyer Who Targeted CJI Gavai
Rakesh Kishore, a 71-year-old advocate from Mayur Vihar Phase 1, made headlines this Monday morning for a bizarre and unprecedented act inside India’s highest court — allegedly throwing a shoe at Chief Justice of India, B. R. Gavai.
Born on September 10, 1954, Kishore entered the legal fraternity relatively late in life, enrolling with the Bar Council of Delhi (BCD) in 2009 at the age of 55. Over the years, he became a known figure in his residential society, Riverview Apartments, though not without controversy.
The Supreme Court Incident
According to eyewitness accounts, Kishore hurled a shoe at CJI Gavai during court proceedings, prompting security personnel to swiftly escort him out of the premises. The incident triggered immediate action from the Bar Council of India (BCI), which suspended his licence to practise law and barred him from appearing or pleading in any judicial forum across the country. A show cause notice was also issued, signalling upcoming disciplinary proceedings.
A source revealed that Kishore’s outburst was allegedly linked to his dissatisfaction with remarks made by the Chief Justice during a recent hearing regarding the restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol in Madhya Pradesh’s Khajuraho Temple complex.
Past Legal Battles
Kishore’s history in legal disputes stretches beyond the courtroom drama of this week. In August 2021, while serving as president of Riverview Apartments, he filed a contempt petition before the Delhi Cooperative Tribunal against the society’s former president and secretary. The matter concerned the use of garbage chutes, but the Tribunal dismissed the petition in June 2022 as “time-barred.”
He followed this with a writ petition in the Delhi High Court, alleging mismanagement in his housing society and claiming it lacked a fire safety certificate for 17 years, from 2004 to 2021.
A Divisive Figure in His Community
Residents of Riverview Apartments paint a complex portrait of Kishore. They say he assumed the role of president six years ago and recent elections have not been conducted. Several complaints have reportedly been filed against him, including allegations of assaulting a senior citizen in November 2021. Despite these grievances, Delhi Police records confirm he has no criminal antecedents.
Aftermath and Questions Ahead
Following the shoe-throwing episode, Kishore was questioned by Delhi Police for three hours before being released. The Supreme Court’s registrar general declined to pursue charges, leaving the matter in the hands of the BCI’s disciplinary committee.
What drove a 71-year-old lawyer — without prior criminal history — to such a dramatic protest remains a question that will likely fuel discussions in both legal and public circles. Whether his act was a momentary flash of frustration or the culmination of years of battles and perceived injustices, Rakesh Kishore’s name now stands alongside some of the most unusual incidents to have unfolded within the hallowed halls of the Supreme Court.
