In the wake of an advocate attempting to hurl a shoe at Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai during a court session, the Punjab Police have filed multiple FIRs against individuals accused of making casteist and hateful remarks against the CJI on social media.

According to police officials, over a hundred social media accounts have been identified across several districts for allegedly spreading inflammatory and derogatory content. “The posts contained material intended to provoke violence, insult a member of a Scheduled Caste, promote enmity on caste lines, and undermine respect for a constitutional office,” a Punjab Police spokesperson stated.

The objectionable remarks surfaced following the courtroom incident on October 6, when a man dressed as a lawyer attempted to throw an object—believed to be a shoe—at CJI Gavai while shouting, “Sanatan Dharam ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan” (“India will not tolerate disrespect towards Sanatan Dharma”).

The individual was quickly escorted out by security, and proceedings resumed after a brief interruption. Demonstrating composure, the CJI remarked, “Don’t get distracted. We are not distracted by this.”

The person was later identified as 71-year-old advocate Rakesh Kishore, who was reportedly upset over CJI Gavai’s remarks in a case related to the restoration of a Lord Vishnu idol in Khajuraho. The Bar Council of India has suspended Kishore, while the Delhi Police released him after the Supreme Court Registrar declined to initiate criminal proceedings.

A note recovered from his possession read: “Mera sandesh har sanatani ke liye hai… Sanatan Dharma ka apmaan nahi sahega Hindustan.”

The Punjab Police stated that strict legal action would be taken against those posting hate speech or caste-based slurs, citing offences under provisions related to promoting enmity, caste insult, and public mischief.