Police have been deployed for security at the home of Abhijit Deepki, founder of the online satirical movement Cockroach Janta, in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where his parents lived when he was a student in Boston in the US, officials said on Sunday.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Pankaj Atulkar confirmed the deployment of troops.
What did the police say?
“We have provided round-the-clock general police protection to Abhijit Deepki’s residence located in MIDC Waluj area. This is to ensure that there is no crowding at his residence as the CJP case is trending on social media at the moment,” DCP Atulkar told news agency PTI.
He denied receiving any official complaint at any police station under his jurisdiction.
What Debke claimed
Dipke alleged a widespread crackdown on the digital movement, claiming that all of his social media accounts and website had been deleted or hacked, leaving the group without access to any of its official platforms.
He also reported receiving direct threats from India, and his parents said the sudden rise of the movement cost them sleep.
Started as a satirical platform sparked by a remark made by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, the CJP has amassed over 20 million followers on Instagram within a week, sparking controversy across political circles and on social media. It has taken a clear anti-BJP, anti-establishment stance, and has faced allegations from senior ruling party leaders that it is anti-India or even “backed by Pakistanis” – accusations that Debke has sought to refute with facts.
Read also | ‘I will be transferred to Tihar Jail the moment I reach Delhi’: Janata Party founder Abhijit Debke
“I received a video of a man saying they arrived outside my house,” Debke told a media outlet. He added that his family should not be held accountable for the consequences of his decisions.
Parents are worried
His parents, Bhagwan and Anita Deepki, told a Marathi news channel on Thursday that they did not want to allow their son to enter politics, and said they lost sleep after learning of his move.
The father said: “I am worried because Abhijeet is famous now. Such people are being arrested. I have not slept for the past two nights worrying about what might happen to him. I hate politics and have no interest in it.” Mother Anita also said that she wants her son to stay away from politics and focus on getting a job. She said: “It will be his decision to continue political work, but we do not want him to continue that. I am worried about him.”
According to Debke, the idea for the group, which is not yet a registered group or party, came about after CJI Surya Kant used the terms “parasites” and “cockroaches” while reprimanding a lawyer seeking the appointment of senior counsel. The CJI later clarified that he had been misquoted and that his remarks were directed at those who enter the legal profession through fake certificates, and not at all the unemployed youth.
