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Story tracker · India
What happened, what is confirmed, and where the accounts disagree, from the exam leak in May to the protests against the Election Commission in October.
The most recent developments. Each links to its full entry and sources.
The three leaders are released by an Executive Magistrate on condition of no breach of peace for one year, with a Rs 50,000 bond. Dipke's family says…
Central Delhi is sealed, with metro stations shut and mobile internet suspended. Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are detained from their Air…
CJP rally in Bengaluru demanding the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation; Dhruv Rathee is among those attending.
The Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) began on May 16 as a satirical online response to remarks by Chief Justice Surya Kant, a day after he reportedly likened some unemployed youth to cockroaches. Anger over the cancelled NEET medical entrance exam turned it into a street movement.
After a 36-day protest in Delhi, including a July 20 march met with tear gas and batons, Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan resigned on July 25 and the CJP called off its protest, saying its demands had been accepted. From August, the CJP said the government had not honoured those commitments, chiefly withdrawing criminal cases against protesters and compensating families of students who died by suicide.
Season 2 began in October with a new demand: the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over a voter-roll revision that critics say favours the ruling BJP. The Election Commission and the BJP deny this. On October 10, police detained founder Abhijeet Dipke and two leaders from their plane in Delhi, and thousands of protesters were detained. The leaders were released on October 11 on condition of no breach of peace for a year, and say they will continue.
Figures come from the sources named under each chart. Where sources disagree, the range is shown.
Every entry links to its sources. Filter by how well an item is supported.
May
NEET-UG medical entrance exam held; about 22 lakh students take it.
Sources: Newslaundry · Daily Excelsior
Exam cancelled over an alleged paper leak and the CBI asked to investigate. Rajasthan police say about 120 of 410 questions in a circulated "guess paper" matched the real exam.
Sources: Scroll · Daily Pioneer · Daily Excelsior
During an unrelated hearing, Chief Justice Surya Kant reportedly likens some unemployed youngsters to cockroaches who become activists and attack the system. The wording is reported consistently; what he meant is disputed.
Sources: Free Press Journal (PTI) · Live Law
May
The Chief Justice says he was misquoted and meant people with fake degrees. The same day, Abhijeet Dipke, then in Boston, launches the Cockroach Janta Party online.
Sources: The Quint · ETV Bharat
The CJP's X account is withheld in India after a legal demand, and a new account opens within hours. Its Instagram reaches about 13.9 million followers, passing the BJP's 8.8 million.
Sources: Outlook · Daily Excelsior · The Mooknayak
Dipke says the government took down the CJP website and that CJP and personal Instagram accounts were hacked. The government has not confirmed any action.
Sources: Al Jazeera · Khaleej Times (Reuters)
June to July
Dipke announces he will fly back on June 6 to protest, saying his family believes he will be arrested at the airport.
Sources: ETV Bharat · The Mooknayak
Dipke lands in Delhi and protests begin at Jantar Mantar.
Sources: Reuters via Aaj · Kerala Kaumudi
Delhi Police say no permission was sought or granted for a march to Parliament.
Sources: Khaleej Times · The Week
"Chalo Sansad" march to Parliament, about 50,000 by one estimate. Police use tear gas and batons; mobile internet is suspended in Delhi; people are detained in Delhi, Mumbai and Bengaluru. Injury figures differ between police and monitors.
Sources: AP · Al Jazeera · Columbia Global Freedom of Expression
Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress MPs stage a sit-in outside the Prime Minister's residence. Amnesty International criticises the police action.
Sources: AP
The CJP's Instagram account is withheld in India after a legal request to Meta.
Sources: Free Press Journal · Outlook
Prime Minister Modi promises fast-track courts for officials accused in exam leaks; a CJP spokesman calls it a "band-aid".
Pradhan resigns. The CJP ends its 36-day protest, saying all its demands were accepted; a federal minister also says they were accepted.
Sources: AP · Al Jazeera
August to September
Dipke says the CJP has no immediate plans to become a political party.
Sources: Reuters via Aaj
The CJP's Instagram is inaccessible in India for about two hours. Meta gives no reason.
Sources: Outlook
The CJP says the government broke its July 25 commitments and calls a September 5 march. Delhi Police say no permission request has been received.
Sources: Khaleej Times (ANI) · The Week · Sentinel Assam
The Supreme Court issues notice on a plea against the September 5 protest and sets a hearing for September 10.
Sources: Indian Awaaz (Live Law)
Planned march from India Gate to Delhi Police headquarters. Outcome still being checked.
Sources to follow
October
CJP rally in Bengaluru demanding the Chief Election Commissioner's resignation; Dhruv Rathee is among those attending.
Sources: Prothom Alo (AFP)
Central Delhi is sealed, with metro stations shut and mobile internet suspended. Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka are detained from their Air India flight on landing. Thousands are detained; counts range from about 2,000 to 7,000.
Sources: UNI · ThePrint (PTI) · Business Today · Qatar Tribune (DPA)
The three leaders are released by an Executive Magistrate on condition of no breach of peace for one year, with a Rs 50,000 bond. Dipke's family says the delay made him miss his grandmother's funeral; police say due procedure was followed.
Sources: Khaleej Times · ThePrint (PTI)
No entries with this label.
Where the sides disagree, both accounts are shown with their sources. The status line says what has been independently established.
One account
Reports and critics: he likened unemployed youth to cockroaches and parasites.
Sources: Free Press Journal (PTI)
Other account
The Chief Justice: he was misquoted and meant people entering professions with fake degrees.
Sources: The Quint
Status: Both accounts are on record.
Other account
X and Meta notices cite a legal request but name no requester. The government has not confirmed the website takedown or the hacking.
Sources: Outlook · Free Press Journal
Status: The country-level withholding is confirmed. Who requested it, and the hacking, are not.
One account
Some BJP figures and right-wing influencers: a large share are in Pakistan.
Sources: Alt News
Other account
Dipke shared analytics showing more than 94% in India; Alt News reviewed a screen recording of the page's data.
Sources: Alt News · Khaleej Times (Reuters)
Status: No independent audit.
One account
The CJP: a brutal crackdown on peaceful protesters, with police charging after inviting them for talks.
Status: Force and injuries on both sides are confirmed. Figures differ; one monitor estimates 60 to 150 protesters injured.
Other account
The CJP since August: criminal cases not withdrawn, compensation not paid, written assurance not given.
Sources: Sentinel Assam · The Week
Status: Disputed and ongoing.
Other account
Police: preventive arrests for an unauthorised protest, with due legal procedure.
Sources: ThePrint (PTI) · Khaleej Times
Status: Both on record. Detention counts range from about 2,000 to 7,000; the CJP says 10,000 nationwide.
One account
Critics and opposition parties: deletions, about 130 million names per data they cite, hit minorities and favour the BJP.
Sources: Khaleej Times
Status: Disputed. This is the context for Season 2.
One account
Opponents: an opposition gimmick, citing Dipke's past work for the Aam Aadmi Party.
Sources: Reuters via Aaj
Other account
Dipke: he will not support any party and has no immediate plans to form one.
Sources: Reuters via Aaj
Status: Both on record.
Takedowns, detentions, restrictions and legal cases connected to the movement.
| Date | Action | By | Label |
|---|---|---|---|
| May 21 | CJP X account withheld in India | X, after a legal demand | Confirmed |
| May 23 | Website down; CJP and founder's Instagram accounts hacked | Attributed to the government by Dipke | Alleged |
| Jul 19–20 | Gatherings of five or more banned outside Jantar Mantar; mobile internet suspended in Delhi | Delhi Police and authorities | Confirmed |
| Jul 20 | Tear gas and baton charges; 70 detained in Delhi, more in Mumbai and Bengaluru | Police | Confirmed |
| Jul 21 | Rahul Gandhi detained during a sit-in | Delhi Police | Reported |
| Jul 22 | CJP Instagram withheld in India | Meta, after a legal request | Confirmed |
| Aug 15 | CJP Instagram inaccessible in India for about two hours | Meta; no reason given | Reported |
| August | Case filed against Dipke and five others over a visit to a government school in Latur | Maharashtra police | Reported |
| Ongoing | Criminal cases against protesters; the Supreme Court reportedly asked the government for a list on Aug 18 | Various state police | Reported |
| Oct 10 | Leaders detained from an aircraft; mass detentions; metro and mobile internet shut in central Delhi | Delhi Police | Confirmed |
| Oct 10 | Dhruv Rathee detained at his Gurugram home ahead of the protest | Police | Reported |
| Oct 11 | Leaders released on condition of no breach of peace for one year | Executive Magistrate, Delhi Cantt | Confirmed |
Cities with reported protests or incidents, shown on the map above.
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