New Delhi, May 23 -- Bar Council of India Chairman Manan Kumar Mishra, in an attempt to defend Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's controversial 'cockroach' remark, said that the top judge was referring to those who obtain "fake degrees."

While speaking to news agency IANS in Delhi, Mishra said, "The Chief Justice was referring to those who obtain fake degrees, wear black coats, bands, and robes, and appear in court. That statement was about them. The background of that situation was different."

Mishra claimed that around 35-40% lawyers in India have a fake degree. He told the news agency, "When the Bar Council of India initiated the process to verify degrees, about 40% of the advocates did not fill up the verification forms. These 40% ...