Punjab Police File Multiple FIRs Over Objectionable Social Media Posts Against CJI BR Gavai
In the aftermath of an advocate hurling a shoe at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai during court proceedings, the Punjab Police has registered multiple FIRs against individuals accused of posting objectionable and casteist remarks against the CJI on social media.
According to Punjab Police, several complaints were received in several districts of the state against more than 100 social media handles who had posted casteist and hateful content against the Chief Justice.
"The contents of the social media posts included posts intended to provoke violence and erode respect for constitutional position, intentional intimidation and insult to a member of a Scheduled Caste (SC), attempts to promote enmity, hatred and ill-will against a member of SC category, promotion of enmity between groups on grounds of caste and intentional insult with the intent to provoke breach of peace and statements conducting to public mischief," said the Punjab Police spokesperson.
In an unusual incident at the Supreme Court on Monday, a person attempted to throw an object at CJI BR Gavai during the morning session.
The man, who was heard shouting slogans, was quickly escorted out of the courtroom by security personnel. The incident caused a brief interruption for a few minutes in proceedings before the session resumed.
According to lawyers present, the individual shouted, “Sanatan Dharam ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan” (“India will not tolerate disrespect towards Sanatan Dharma”) while being removed from the courtroom. Some witnesses claimed he tried to throw a shoe, while others said he appeared to be hurling a roll of paper. The man was reportedly dressed in a lawyer's robe.
Despite the disturbance, Chief Justice Gavai remained composed and continued with the day's proceedings. Asking the next lawyer to make submissions, the CJI remarked, “Don't get distracted. We are not distracted by this.”
It was later known that the attacker was a 71-year-old lawyer named Rakesh Kishore who was reportedly unhappy with the remarks made by CJI Gavai while dismissing a petition seeking restoration of a dilapidated Lord Vishnu temple at Khajuraho.
The Bar Council of India has suspended the lawyer. The Delhi Police released the lawyer as the Supreme Court Registrar declined to pursue further legal action against him.
As per The Indian Express, the police recovered a white paper note from his possession, which read: "Mera sandesh har sanatani ke liye hai...Sanatan Dharma ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan (My message is for all followers of Hinduism, this country will not tolerate any disrespect to Hinduism."