Rakesh Kishore, a septuagenarian lawyer who is ‘unknown’ in legal circle and ‘invisible’ in society

Rakesh Kishore, the 72-year-old lawyer who threw a shoe at Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai earlier this week, is largely unknown in legal circles and is rarely seen in courtrooms.

This action led to the suspension of Mr. Kishore’s membership of the Bar and his right to practice law. He also says the situation has suddenly brought him into the public spotlight and claims that he has been living an ‘invisible’ life until now.

A native of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, Mr. Kishore’s father served as District Inspector of Schools (DIOS), a Class I officer responsible for overseeing education and administration in government schools. After completing his primary education in his hometown, he went to Banaras Hindu University (BHU), where he claimed to have obtained a Master’s degree. in Medical Entomology. Those who know him say he worked for several years as a consultant at the World Health Organization (WHO) on projects related to vector-borne diseases. At the age of 55, he decided to become a lawyer and later joined the Delhi Bar Association (DBA).

“I have never seen him in the Supreme Court,” said Meenesh Dubey, joint secretary of the Supreme Court Bar Association.

Mr. Dubey, who met Mr. Kishore after he was detained by the police following the incident, suspects that the act was a “publicity stunt”.

Another lawyer at Karkardooma Court, who lived briefly in the Mayur Vihar society where Mr Kishore currently resides, said he had not seen him wearing a black jacket or practicing law.

“I only found out that he was a lawyer when he contested the association’s elections and even won,” he said.

Mr Kishore, who suffers from Parkinson’s disease, diabetes and chronic heart disease, appears unaffected by the repercussions of his action. Neighbors say his family (his wife and two married daughters) are deeply concerned for his safety. They also deny that Mr. Kishore is affiliated with any political party, but admit that he admires Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath.

Reacting to the protest of members of a political party in front of their residence, he said, “Dalit Ka Apmaan Nahi Sahega HindustanMr. Kishore said the issue “(India does not tolerate insult by a Dalit”) was raised. Hindu that he too belongs to the same community as the CJI.

“I am also a Dalit,” he said. He also spoke at length about what ‘incited’ him to carry out the act, which was condemned across the country, and praised the Yogi government’s ‘bulldozer action’ against Muslims in Bareilly, calling it “the only way to get justice these days”.

The seventy-year-old actor, who stays away from social media and does not like public meetings, said that he has lived an ‘invisible’ life until now and ‘Sanatan Dharma‘ question has now brought him into the spotlight.