A week after Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai faced the hurling of a shoe by a lawyer, a consortium of opinion against the CJI had been in motion on social media, insidiously instigating an attack on him in the name of Hindutva, and even after the attack, Prime Minister Narendra Modi was also the target of Hindutva brigades for condemning the incident, over which an extremist reminded the PM that he should speak for himself, not for the entire nation.
Video clips and social media posts have since surfaced showing that Hindu right-wing YouTubers and commentators had openly discussed and appeared to encourage violence against the Chief Justice days before the attack, creating a digital environment steeped in hate and casteist invective, according to Maktoob Media.
Among the figures reportedly participating in these discussions were Ajit Bharti, Kaushlesh Rai, and OpIndia editor Anupam Singh, whose remarks in online conversations have been described by legal observers as potential incitement. One such video contained comments suggesting physical assault against the Chief Justice under the pretext of “non-violence,” and references to the birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi to mock restraint while rhetorically discussing acts of aggression.
These videos, circulated widely on X (formerly Twitter) and other platforms, formed part of an escalating online campaign that painted the Chief Justice as “anti-Hindu,” amplified by influencers and right-wing handles that attacked him for his recent remarks in court concerning a petition about a Vishnu idol in Khajuraho. What began as criticism of a judicial observation soon expanded into a vilification campaign marked by caste-based abuse and open provocation.
After the attack, the rhetoric intensified. Pro-Hindutva influencers and social media accounts continued their tirade against the Chief Justice, using casteist imagery and AI-generated visuals that degraded him as a Dalit.
One such AI-generated video posted by a right-wing influencer depicted Justice Gavai with an earthen pot around his head—a representation of the centuries-old caste-based humiliation imposed on Dalits—and being struck by a shoe. The video, which has been viewed thousands of times and remains undeleted, was accompanied by messages justifying the attack as a response to perceived “anti-Hindu” actions, The Wire reported.
Suspended advocate Rakesh Kishore, who carried out the attack, justified his conduct as an act of devotion, claiming to have acted “in the name of God,” while continuing to appear on television and social media without remorse. His statements, laced with caste references and ideological justification, found resonance among sections of the same right-wing ecosystem that had vilified the Chief Justice before the assault.
Even as political leaders across the spectrum condemned the attack, the reaction within pro-Hindutva circles turned against the Prime Minister himself after his late-night statement condemning the violence. Right-wing commentators accused Modi of siding with the judiciary and “abandoning” Hindus, while some went as far as to label him an “Ambedkarite.”
Online posts questioned why the Prime Minister had not spoken when Justice Gavai made his remarks on Vishnu, accusing him of hypocrisy and betrayal of Hindu causes.
As the investigation into the attempted assault continues, legal experts have urged authorities to treat the online campaign as a coordinated hate effort and to preserve digital evidence for prosecution under sections relating to criminal conspiracy and incitement.