Shoe attack on CJI: Letter seeks contempt actions against religious preacher, YouTuber

New Delhi: A letter has been sent to Attorney General R Venkataramani seeking his permission to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against religious preacher Aniruddhacharya aka Aniruddh Ram Tiwari and YouTuber Ajeet Bharti for allegedly inciting failed attempt to attack Chief Justice of India B R Gavai with a shoe.

Founder of Mission Ambedkar, Suraj Kumar Bauddh shot off the letter to the AG as mandated under the Contempt of Courts Act.

The letter referred to a viral video of Aniruddhacharya wherein he purportedly asked the CJI if he wanted his chest to be ripped open and, a X post by Bharti making objectionable comments after the October 6 incident.

Meanwhile, lawyer Rakesh Kishore, who made a failed attempt to throw a shoe on the CJI during the court proceedings, sought to justify his acts claiming he was deeply hurt by remarks made by Gavai in Lord Vishnu idol case last month.

"The 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," he told a news agency.

He said he was deeply hurt as on September 16 by the CJI's remarks over a PIL filed by an individual in the Chief Justice’s court.

"Justice Gavai completely mocked it. Mockery in the sense that he said, 'Go pray to the idol, ask the idol to restore its own head',” 71-year-old Kishore said.

He claimed his actions were not driven by intoxication or impulse but by “emotional distress”.

The lawyer also questioned the Bar Council of India's decision to suspend his licence with immediate effect, saying it was a violation of the natural justice.