CJP Hits Back at RTI Activist Over Questions on Abhijeet Dipke's US Education, Mentions PM CARES Fund

The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) on Monday strongly defended its founder, Abhijeet Dipke, after an RTI activist questioned the funding of his higher education in the United States. The party accused the activist of selective scrutiny and suggested that similar questions should also be asked about the PM CARES Fund.

The controversy began after Surat-based RTI activist Amit Tiwari sought an investigation into the financial background of Dipke's family. Tiwari questioned how Dipke's father, Bhagwanrao Dipke, a retired junior engineer with the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation (MIDC), could have financed the overseas education of his children while drawing a reported monthly salary of around ₹60,000 to ₹65,000. He has also approached multiple authorities seeking a probe into the matter.

Responding to the allegations, Abhijeet Dipke said his education was funded through a scholarship from Boston University along with an education loan, which he is still repaying. He rejected suggestions that his studies abroad were financed through unexplained family wealth and said he possesses documents supporting his scholarship claim.

The political row escalated after CJP spokesperson Vaishnavi Gaur came out in Dipke's defence. In a post on social media, Gaur said those filing RTIs over a private individual's education expenses should also examine the PM CARES Fund, adding that transparency should be applied uniformly rather than selectively.

Apart from questioning Dipke's educational expenses, the RTI activist has also sought scrutiny of the Cockroach Janta Party's legal status and its fundraising activities. Complaints have reportedly been submitted to the Election Commission of India and other authorities regarding donations received by the organisation, including a ₹1 crore legal aid fund announced by Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal for protesters linked to the anti-NEET agitation. 

Addressing the funding issue, Dipke said the party intends to rely on crowdfunding and maintain complete transparency in its financial operations. He also claimed that much of the support received during the anti-NEET protests came directly from ordinary citizens in the form of food, water and other voluntary contributions. 

The exchange has intensified the political debate around transparency and accountability. While critics argue that public figures should be open to financial scrutiny, CJP maintains that similar standards should apply across all public institutions and government-managed funds. As of now, no official findings have been announced regarding the complaints filed by the RTI activist. The issue is expected to remain in focus as both sides continue to defend their positions.