Chief Justice of India B R Gavai.
New Delhi: A lawyer on Monday made a bid to hurl shoes at Chief Justice of India (CJI) B R Gavai, creating commotion inside the courtroom.
In a dramatic scene, the advocate, identified as Rakesh Kishore, made an unsuccessful attempt to throw shoes at Gavai. Security personnel, however, intervened and escorted him out of the courtroom.
When he was being taken away, he was heard shouting: “Sanatan ka apman nahi sahenge (We will not tolerate any insult to Sanatan).” He was reportedly unhappy with the CJI's remarks on the restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol.
The CJI, however, asked the lawyers present to carry on with the day’s proceedings.
"Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me," he said.
The incident comes in the backdrop of a controversy related to Gavai's remarks when he declined to consider a plea seeking directions to reconstruct and reinstall a seven-foot idol of Lord Vishnu at the Javari Temple, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Khajuraho temple complex in Madhya Pradesh.
"Go and ask the deity himself to do something," Justice Gavai had said, in response to a petition filed by Rakesh Dalal.
After the incident, the 71-year-old advocate was arrested by the police.
"He is a resident of the Mayur Vihar area and a registered member of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)," the senior police officer said.
Further investigations are on, the police said.