Former chief justice of India B R Gavai was criticised for bowing before and seeking blessings from Dhirendra Shastri. (File Photo)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis defended former chief justice of India B R Gavai on Sunday after he was criticised for bowing before and seeking blessings from Dhirendra Shastri, the chief priest of Bageshwar Dham in Madhya Pradesh.

Activist Shyam Manav, founder-president of the Andhashraddha Nirmoolan Samiti, criticised Justice Gavai on April 25, stating that the former CJI had now lost the right to invoke the name of Dr B R Ambedkar.

“Who is Shyam Manav to say this? Who gave him this right? Is he the one distributing certificates? Lately, Shyam Manav speaks only for publicity.…