Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Debaki, a satirical political outfit, filed a case in the Delhi High Court on Monday challenging the ban on the party’s official X account.
The petition, filed through lawyer Nakul Gandhi, challenges the May 21 decision to block the account.
The outfit emerged amid the controversy over statements attributed to Chief Justice of India, Surya Kant, during a hearing on granting the title of “senior” to lawyers, as “young people” were allegedly being referred to as “cockroaches” and “parasites”. The CJI later clarified that his statements had been misquoted and were directed at individuals entering the legal profession with “fake and fictitious degrees”.
Five days after its launch and rapid rise on social media, CJP DeBakey later shared a screenshot of the notification on social media, calling the move “expected.”
The blocking came at a time when CJP has emerged as one of the fastest growing online trends in the country. Hours later, the group reappeared under a new title, “The cockroach is back,” with the post: “Did you think you could get rid of us? Haha.”
The controversy also sparked reactions across the political spectrum. Several opposition leaders amplified the campaign online, with Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Mahua Moitra and Kirti Azad openly interacting with the movement and sharing its posts.
Opposition party leaders said the campaign’s popularity reflected growing frustration among unemployed youth and accused the government of failing to address concerns about jobs and inflation. Some members of Congress and left-leaning social media also shared photos and posts related to the campaign, calling it a “digital protest” against the political establishment.
