Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the satirical online collective Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), has approached the Delhi High Court challenging the blocking of the group’s official X account.
The petition was filed on Monday through advocate Nakul Gandhi and contests the decision taken on May 21 to withhold the account.
The move comes just days after the online collective rapidly gained attention across multiple social media platforms.
How the Cockroach Janta Party Became Viral
The satirical movement emerged after remarks attributed to Chief Justice of India Surya Kant during a hearing related to the “senior advocate” designation process.
According to online discussions, certain remarks referring to “cockroaches” and “parasites” were linked to youngsters entering the legal profession.
However, the Chief Justice later clarified that his comments had been misquoted and were specifically directed at individuals allegedly entering the profession with fake or bogus degrees, not at the youth in general.
Following the controversy, the Cockroach Janta Party quickly became a viral digital trend, attracting significant online engagement.
X Account Withheld Amid Rapid Online Growth
The restriction of the CJP’s official X account came during a period of rapid social media growth for the group.
According to publicly visible social media figures:
- The collective’s Instagram account crossed 22.9 million followers
- Thousands reportedly signed up through online membership forms
- The campaign gained traction across meme pages and political discussions online
Hours after the original account was blocked, another account using the name “Cockroach is back” appeared online and posted messages suggesting the campaign would continue.
Under X’s content policy, accounts may be restricted in specific countries if the platform receives a valid legal request from authorised authorities or if content violates local laws.
Petition Filed Earlier in Supreme Court
Dipke’s legal move follows another petition that had earlier been filed in the Supreme Court seeking action against the group.
The plea reportedly argued that the formation and online activities of the Cockroach Janta Party amounted to “sensational dissemination” of court observations made during a recent hearing.
However, a three-judge bench headed by the Chief Justice declined a request for an urgent hearing.
“There is no grave urgency. We will consider it in due course of time,” the bench reportedly observed.
Political Reactions Around the Online Campaign
The online campaign has also sparked political reactions.
Several opposition leaders and political commentators described the popularity of the campaign as a reflection of growing frustration among unemployed youth and concerns regarding inflation and job opportunities.
Some Congress-linked and Left-leaning social media accounts also shared memes and posts connected to the campaign, calling it a form of “digital protest” against the political establishment.
The controversy continues to draw attention across legal, political, and social media circles as the Delhi High Court prepares to hear the matter.
