The Cockroaches Survive Again: HC Swats Away ‘Anti-National’ PIL as Founder Flies Home for the Big Sting

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) , the satirical youth movement that has gained strong traction on Indian social media, has taken a key organisational step by appointing three spokespersons , even as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking an investigation into its alleged “anti national activities” was dismissed by the Allahabad High Court . Together, these developments highlight both the group’s growing visibility and the controversy around it.

Founded on May 16, 2026 by Abhijeet Dipke , a political communications strategist and recent Boston University graduate, the CJP emerged after remarks attributed to the Chief Justice of India Surya Kant , who had compared unemployed youth to “cockroaches” and “parasites of society.” Dipke reportedly built the movement online within 24 hours using AI tools such as Claude and ChatGPT to design its website and manifesto. Within days of its launch, the movement claimed over 350,000 sign ups and more than 20 million followers on Instagram , surpassing the BJP’s following on the platform. Volunteers have also participated in protests and clean up drives wearing cockroach costumes .

The movement has faced pushback. Its website was taken down by authorities , while both Dipke’s personal Instagram account and the CJP’s official page were reportedly hacked . More recently, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court declined to entertain a PIL filed by S Vignesh Shishir , a Bengaluru resident, who had sought a probe by the NIA and ED into alleged foreign funded anti national activities linked to the group and requested blocking of its social media accounts across multiple platforms. The bench, comprising Justices Shekhar B Saraf and Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary , observed that the petitioner was based in Bengaluru and that no cause of action arose in Uttar Pradesh, adding that the matter should have been filed in the Karnataka High Court . The petitioner was allowed to withdraw the plea with liberty to approach the appropriate court.

Meanwhile, CJP has announced its spokesperson team . Investigative journalist Saurav Das , known for his reporting on legal and social issues and involvement in anti pollution protests at India Gate in November 2025, has been appointed chief spokesperson. Political researcher, author and filmmaker Vijeta Dahiya , and former McKinsey consultant Ashutosh Ranka , an IIT Kanpur and London School of Economics alumnus who returned from London last year and has worked on campaigns linked to the NEET paper leak controversy in Jaipur , will also represent the organisation.

Abhijeet Dipke , who is expected to arrive in Delhi on June 6 , has called on supporters to gather at the airport and march to Parliament Street police station to seek permission for a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar . The protest demands the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan over alleged NEET UG 2026 paper leaks and CBSE system lapses. He has also said he will return permanently to India despite multiple job offers in the United States.