NEW DELHI: Abhijeet Dipke, the founder of the viral 'Cockroach Janta Party' (CJP), is set to return to India on June 6. Following his return, Dipke has announced a protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar, where he will demand the resignation of the Education Minister. He shared this information via his new X (formerly Twitter) handle, ‘Cockroach Is Back’.

The announcement comes amidst an ongoing legal battle over the suspension of the original CJP X account, which the central government blocked citing national security concerns.

Who is Abhijeet Dipke and What is CJP?

The Cockroach Janta Party is a popular social media initiative that gained massive traction following a recent "cockroach" remark made by Supreme Court Justice Surya Kant. The satirical platform has grown exponentially, boasting over 20 million (2 crore) followers on Instagram.

Abhijeet Dipke's Background:

• Early Life & Education: The 30-year-old digital media strategist hails from Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar (formerly Aurangabad), Maharashtra. He studied journalism in Pune and is currently pursuing a Master's degree in Public Relations at Boston University in the United States.

• Political Stint: From 2020 to 2022, Dipke worked as a social media strategist for Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). During the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections, he was instrumental in creating viral, meme-based online campaign material for the party.

• Shift to the US: In a recent interview, Dipke revealed that he left AAP to seek personal and financial stability, successfully applying to Boston University and relocating to America. Over the years, he has frequently targeted the central government and the Prime Minister on his X account over issues ranging from the farmers' protests to inflation.

Delhi High Court Declines Immediate Relief for CJP Account

On May 29, the Delhi High Court refused to pass an immediate order lifting the ban on the Cockroach Janta Party's original X account. The court has sought responses from both the Central Government and X within four weeks. Dipke had approached the court challenging the blocking order, arguing that CJP is purely a political and social satire platform and that blocking the entire account—rather than specific objectionable posts—was unjustified.

Key Courtroom Arguments:

• The Bench's Stance: The bench, led by Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav, stated that an unblocking order could not be passed without hearing the government's side, given the wider implications and far-reaching consequences of the case. The next hearing is scheduled for July 6.

• Lack of Clarity on the Ban: The court noted that the exact reasons for the blocking order remain unclear, as neither the petitioner nor the court has seen the official order yet.

• Government's Defense: Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued against passing any ex-parte orders, suggesting that the intermediary (X) appeared to be assisting the petitioner. He assured the court that the blocking order and the complete record would be presented if required.

National Security Citations and the "Cockroach is Back" Phenomenon

According to reports, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) directed X to block the account under Section 69A of the IT Act, 2000. This action was reportedly based on inputs from the Intelligence Bureau (IB) citing national security concerns.

The original CJP account was suspended on May 21 when it had over 193,000 followers. Shortly after the ban, the organization launched a new account named ‘Cockroach Is Back’ with the bio “Cockroaches don't die.” The new account quickly gained traction, amassing over 240,000 followers within days.

Meanwhile, a BJP worker has filed a petition in the Allahabad High Court, demanding that Abhijeet Dipke be brought back to India to face legal scrutiny.

The Emerging Legal Battle: Call for a CBI Investigation

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) has been filed in the Supreme Court of India against the self-proclaimed satirical movement known as the "Cockroach Janta Party" (CJP). The petition, moved by Advocate Raja Choudhary, explicitly demands a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the activities of the group.

The plea accuses individuals linked to the CJP of commercially exploiting and monetizing oral observations made by the judiciary. It further argues that the selective clipping, meme-making, and commercial circulation of court proceedings distort constitutional context and compromise the dignity of the legal system. Additionally, the petitioner has asked for an independent investigation into "fake advocates" operating with forged law degrees who are allegedly associated with the campaign.

Supreme Court’s Stance: "Don't Take It So Sentimentally"

When the matter was brought up for an urgent listing before a Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, the court firmly declined immediate intervention. Arguing for the petitioner, Advocate NK Goswami stated that the viral movement was tarnishing the image of the judiciary.

Responding to the concerns, the Bench—which also included Justices Joymalya Bagchi and VM Pancholi—observed that the issue was being overplayed.

"There is no such grave urgency. We will see. Don't take it so sentimentally," the CJI remarked.

The petitioner clarified that the plea does not intend to suppress democratic dissent, satire, or free speech protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution, but rather targets organized monetization and algorithm-driven amplification of court remarks for commercial gains.

How the 'Cockroach Janta Party' Was Born

The satirical movement trace its origins back to oral observations made by CJI Surya Kant during a court hearing on May 15, 2026. While addressing concerns over falling professional standards and fake credentials in the legal ecosystem, the CJI had remarked: "There are youngsters like cockroaches who are not getting employment in the profession. Some are on social media, some become RTI activists."

Though the CJI later clarified that his statements were directed strictly at individuals infiltrating the profession with fake degrees and not at unemployed youth at large, the comment quickly triggered heavy backlash online. Recognizing the brewing anger among Gen Z users over unemployment and recurring exam paper leaks (such as the NEET-UG row), Boston-based content creator Abhijeet Dipke officially launched the 'Cockroach Janta Party' as an internet satire campaign on May 16.

Operating under the tongue-in-cheek motto "Secular, Socialist, Democratic, Lazy," the page's popularity exploded exponentially, briefly overtaking major mainstream political parties in Instagram follower growth.

Digital Crackdown and Hacking Claims

As the movement gained national political traction, it faced severe structural pushback. The original X (formerly Twitter) handle of the party was withheld in India following instructions from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under Section 69A of the IT Act.

Furthermore, founder Abhijeet Dipke alleged a highly coordinated digital crackdown. He reported that his personal Instagram account, along with the official and backup pages of the party, were hacked and locked out. Dipke has since moved the Delhi High Court challenging the blocking of the party's X account on alleged national security grounds. Following reported death threats and security concerns regarding individuals turning up at his family residence in Maharashtra, local police have provided security protection to his family.