Punjab Police Crack Down On Social Media Posts Targeting CJI BR Gavai, File FIRs

Chief Justice of India BR Gavai (News18)

The Punjab Police on Wednesday lodged multiple FIRs after receiving numerous complaints of casteist, unlawful, and objectionable social media posts about Chief Justice of India BR Gavai, following a shoe attack on him.

A Punjab Police spokesperson said social media content relating to attacks on high constitutional authority, caste-based vilification and incitement, public mischief with a direct attempt to disturb peace and public order by unjustly exploiting caste and communal sentiments has been flagged, and FIRs have been registered in accordance with the law, news agency PTI reported.

The controversial social media posts contain casteist and hate-filled expressions intended to promote communal disharmony, disturb public order, and erode respect for judicial institutions, the official said.

He further said that the contents of the social media posts included content that were intended to provoke violence and erode respect for constitutional position, intentional intimidation, insult to a member of a scheduled caste, attempts to promote enmity, hatred and ill-will, promote enmity between groups on grounds of caste, and, intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace and statements conducting to public mischief.

FIRs under the relevant Sections of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita have been registered in various police stations on receipt of information disclosing the commission of cognisable offences.

Further investigations in these FIRs are being conducted in accordance with the law, said the spokesperson.

The action came two days after in an unprecedented and shocking incident, an elderly lawyer attempted to hurl a shoe towards CJI Gavai in his courtroom in the Supreme Court.

Alert security personnel present inside the courtroom immediately intervened and prevented the attack.

A 71-year-old lawyer, Rakesh Kishore was swiftly escorted out of the court premises, and in the process, he shouted “‘Sanatan ka apman nahi sahega Hindustan’ (India will not tolerate the disrespect of the Sanatana Dharma)”.

Despite the disruption, CJI Gavai remained calm, telling the courtroom, “Don’t get distracted by all this. We are not distracted. These things do not affect me.”

According to police sources, the errant lawyer was unhappy over the CJI’s remarks during a hearing last month concerning the restoration of a Vishnu idol in Khajuraho.

Terming the plea a “publicity interest litigation”, the CJI had said, “This is purely 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.”

The Bar Council of India (BCI) has suspended his licence with immediate effect.

(With inputs from PTI)