FIR Filed Against CJP Founder in Latur

Police in Maharashtra's Latur district have filed a First Information Report (FIR) against Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), and others for allegedly entering a government school without permission and threatening teachers. The FIR was lodged at Ausa police station following a complaint by Sayyed Shamshadbano Khairatali (53), a teacher at a Zilla Parishad Urdu school in Jawali near Ausa, about 500 km from Mumbai.

According to the complaint, Dipke and his associates entered the school premises without authorization, sat among students, and asked questions, allegedly causing obstruction to educational and government work. The complaint also alleges that Dipke filmed the proceedings and shared videos on social media, and that he attempted to defame the school by claiming that students from another institution had been brought in for his visit. He also allegedly threatened to get the teachers suspended.

The FIR has been registered under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) sections 132 (assault or use of criminal force to deter a public servant), 329(3) (house trespass), 351(2) (criminal intimidation), and 356(2) (criminal defamation). Further investigation is underway, officials said.

Context: The 'School Thik Karo' Campaign

Dipke's visit was part of the CJP's ongoing 'School Thik Karo' (Improve Government Schools) campaign, launched on Independence Day (August 15) from Dipke's native village in Hingoli. The initiative aims to highlight infrastructure gaps and other deficiencies in government schools across India.

The campaign has drawn both support and opposition. While CJP members have visited schools in several states, they have also faced resistance. In a related incident, a CJP team was allegedly attacked while visiting a government school in Jaipur's Rampura Kanwarpura on Friday. Police have registered separate FIRs from both sides in that case, with Jaipur South DCP Rajarshi Raj Verma confirming that cases were filed based on complaints from both parties.

The CJP has alleged that the attack was planned, with activist Ashutosh Ranka claiming that outsiders were brought in and that some were seen with Bagru MLA Kailash Verma the previous night. Ranka also said the villagers were not involved and shared videos showing the school operating in a buffalo shed, with the building reportedly declared unsafe. In response, a villager filed a complaint alleging that CJP members intimidated residents. Rajesh Gautam, SHO at Shivdaspura, said the villager also claimed that children were scared to attend school after the incident. Ranka, however, asserted that the CJP has evidence to prove the attackers were BJP workers.

In Mumbai, the civic education department has barred CJP volunteers from entering municipal schools without permission. This followed a complaint by the headmaster of Colaba Market Civic School after CJP members conducted an inspection there. During that visit, the team flagged issues including a Telugu-medium section lacking teachers, inadequate benches, poor sanitation, nonfunctioning faucets, and garbage in classrooms. A CJP member said the group was now being cautious about further audits, noting that authorities were "waiting for us to make even one small mistake." The CJP has continued its volunteer recruitment efforts, holding meetings in Navi Mumbai and Mumbai, with plain clothes policemen in attendance.

Dipke's Response

Dipke reacted to the FIR by sharing on X a video featuring a stanza from Kishore Kumar's song 'Yeh Jeevan Hai,' with lyrics that translate to "This is life; this is what this life is, this is—this is—this is its nature." He also posted the news report on Instagram Stories with a meme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi saying "Oh my god."

Political Statements

Separately, reports indicate that Dipke has demanded the resignation of Maharashtra School Education Minister Dada Bhuse, alleging that government schools lack basic facilities such as proper classrooms, benches, toilets, and safe roads. "It is a question of students' lives," he said. He also made remarks critical of political leaders, stating, "When political leaders are not doing anything for students, why should people vote for them? ... The dogs of these ministers get better facilities than this." He urged people to question elected representatives about school conditions regardless of political affiliation.

Broader Context

A report notes that the Rajasthan government has admitted that 611 schools are functioning without their own buildings, and has ordered construction of a new building for the school in Rampura Kanwarpura, with work scheduled to begin on September 1, 2026.

The multiple FIRs and the Mumbai ban highlight the increasing friction between the CJP's campaign and authorities, even as the party continues to press for improvements in government schools.