CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR, May 22, 2026 : The rapid rise of the satirical digital platform Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) on social media has left the parents of its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, deeply worried about his safety and possible legal troubles.
The platform, which emerged barely a week ago, has witnessed explosive growth online and reportedly amassed over 19 million followers on Instagram through meme-based political satire and commentary focused on youth issues such as unemployment, education and examination paper leaks.
Abhijeet Dipke, a student at Boston University and formerly associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), launched the platform following the controversy surrounding remarks attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant involving the words “cockroaches” and “parasites.”
Though the Chief Justice later clarified that his remarks had been misquoted and were directed specifically at individuals entering the legal profession through “fake and bogus degrees,” the satirical movement quickly gained traction nationwide.
Speaking to a Marathi news channel, Dipke’s parents Bhagwan Dipke and Anita Dipke said they were anxious about their son’s growing visibility and feared he could face trouble or even arrest due to his political satire activities.
“If we look at politics nowadays, fear is natural. In one of his interviews, he himself expressed fear of being arrested after returning to India,” Bhagwan Dipke said.
He added that the sudden popularity of the platform had left him unable to sleep for the past two nights due to concern for his son’s future and safety.
Abhijeet’s mother Anita Dipke said she would prefer her son to stay away from politics and focus on building a stable professional career.
“We just want him to return home safely. Whether he continues in politics will be his decision, but we do not want him to pursue it,” she said.
The parents revealed that they initially learned about the platform’s popularity through neighbours and relatives who informed them about the rapidly growing follower count on social media.
Observers say the rise of Cockroach Janata Party highlights the growing influence of digital satire, meme culture and online activism among younger audiences in India.
