Cockroach Janta Party: PIL In Allahabad HC Seeks NIA, ED Multi-Agency Probe Against Founder Abhijeet Dipke

The controversy surrounding the viral social media movement "Cockroach Janta Party" (CJP) has reached the Allahabad High Court, where a public interest litigation has sought a multi-agency investigation against its founder Abhijeet Dipke.

The PIL, filed before the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court by Karnataka BJP worker S. Vignesh Shishir, seeks directions for an investigation by agencies including the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the activities of Dipke and the Cockroach Janta Party.

The petitioner alleged that Dipke was conducting digital 'information warfare' from the United States through the social media movement. The plea further alleges that CJI Surya Kant's oral observations made during judicial proceedings were selectively circulated on social media to fuel a coordinated online campaign.

The petition comes amid the meteoric rise of CJP, which emerged in May after Chief Justice of India Surya Kant's remarks referring to unemployed youth as "cockroaches" during a court hearing triggered a massive backlash online.

Dipke, a 30-year-old based in the United States, launched the satirical platform claiming to represent the concerns of young Indians frustrated by unemployment, examination paper leaks and governance issues. The movement rapidly amassed tens of millions of followers across social media platforms, becoming one of the country's most discussed online phenomena.

The Allahabad High Court proceedings are only one aspect of the growing legal battle surrounding the movement. In recent days, Dipke approached the Delhi High Court, challenging the blocking of the Cockroach Janta Party's X account after the Union government allegedly cited national security concerns. The petition also raised grievances regarding the reported blocking of other digital assets associated with the movement, including its website and social media handles.

On May 29, Justice Purushaindra Kumar Kaurav issued notices to the Union government and X while hearing Dipke's challenge. However, the court declined to grant immediate restoration of the account, observing that such relief could not be granted without hearing the government's position.

The court instead directed the review committee constituted under the Information Technology Rules to examine the matter and place its decision on record. The matter is now scheduled for further consideration in July.

Apart from the Allahabad High Court PIL, separate petitions have also been moved before the Supreme Court seeking investigations into the activities of the Cockroach Janta Party and persons allegedly associated with it. These pleas contend that judicial observations were commercially and politically exploited by the online campaign.

The PIL before the Allahabad High Court is expected to come up for consideration on Tuesday before the bench of Justices Shekhar B Saraf and Abdesh Kumar Chaudhary.

Case Title: S. Vignesh Shishir vs. UOI and 21 Others