'I don't regret': Lawyer who tried to hurl shoe at CJI Gavai in Supreme Court says he was hurt by 'Sanatan dharma' orders

Advocate Rakesh Kishore, who attempted to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India B R Gavai during a proceedings in the Supreme Court on Monday, said he had no remorse in the incident.

In an interview with the news agency ANI, the lawyer said he does not regret what happened. "I am not fearful. I don't regret what happened," he shared.

"A PIL was filed in the Court of CJI on 16th Sept. The CJI mocked it and said - go and pray to the idol and tell it to restore its own head...When a matter related to our Sanatan Dharma comes up, SC passes such orders. Don't provide relief to the petitioner, but don't mock him either...I was hurt...I was not inebriated; this was my reaction to his action..." he further said.

The advocate also added that the CJI should uphold the dignity of 'Milord', "'...CJI should think that when he is sitting on such a high constitutional post, he should understand the meaning of 'Milord' and uphold its dignity...You go to Mauritius and say that the country will not run with a bulldozer. I ask the CJI and those opposing me: Is the bulldozer action by Yogi ji against those who encroached on government property wrong?...I am hurt and will continue to be so..."

"...My name is Dr Rakesh Kishore. Can someone tell my caste? Maybe I am a Dalit too. It is one-sided that you are taking advantage of the fact that he (CJI Gavai) is a Dalit. He is not a Dalit. He was a Sanatani Hindu first. He then renounced his faith and followed Buddhism. If he feels that he has come out of Hinduism after following Buddhism, how is he still a Dalit? This is about mindset..." he continued to share.

He also said he is not going to apologize, and neither does he regret it. "...Judges should work on their sensitivity. Lakhs of cases are pending...I am neither going to apologise, nor do I regret it. I have not done anything; you are questioning me. Almighty made me do it..."

His outburst reportedly came in response to the CJI's views on the Vishnu idol restoration at Madhya Pradesh's Javari Temple, which is a part of the Khajuraho temple complex.

Petitioner Rakesh Dalal's plea to the Supreme Court sought a replacement/ reconstruction/ rejuvenation of the idol of the Lord Vishnu and install/ consecrate the same at the Javari temple, in place of the headless 7-foot-long idol.

"This is purely a publicity interest litigation. Go and ask the deity himself to do something. If you are saying that you are a strong devotee of Lord Vishnu, then you pray and do some meditation,” a bench of Chief Justice of India B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran told petitioner Rakesh Dalal.

The police arrested the 71-year old advocate soon after the incident. "He is a resident of the Mayur Vihar area and a registered member of the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA)," a senior police officer said.