RTI Complaint Triggers Fresh Political Row Over CJP Funding
A fresh political controversy has erupted after an RTI activist sought an inquiry into the financial background of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and his family’s finances. Responding to the allegations, the party dismissed the claims as baseless and shifted the focus towards the PM CARES Fund, demanding greater transparency.
The controversy began after Surat-based RTI activist Amit Tiwari filed a complaint seeking an investigation into the assets of Bhagwanrao Dipke, a retired Maharashtra government employee and father of Abhijeet Dipke. Tiwari questioned how Dipke managed to pursue higher education at Boston University in the United States, claiming the family’s known income did not appear sufficient to support such expenses.
RTI Activist Questions US Education Funding
Speaking to reporters, Amit Tiwari said he had approached the Maharashtra government seeking an inquiry into the family’s finances.
He stated, “I have complained to the Maharashtra Government that Bhagwanrao Dipke was a Junior Engineer at MIDC. So, if he received a salary of ₹60,000-65,000, how was he able to afford the education of his children in the US?”
The activist further urged authorities to investigate whether there were any disproportionate assets linked to the family.
Abhijeet Dipke Says Scholarship Funded His Education
Rejecting the allegations, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke clarified that his education in the United States was financed through a scholarship and an education loan.
During an interview with senior journalist Barkha Dutt, Dipke said, “My education was funded by a scholarship provided by Boston University. And I had taken some education loan which I have to pay back now.”
He also said he had produced scholarship-related documents to support his claim.
CJP Counters With PM CARES Fund Demand
The party also launched a counterattack over the controversy. CJP spokesperson Vaishnavi Gaur questioned why similar demands for transparency were not being made regarding the PM CARES Fund.
In a post on X, she wrote, “Those who file RTIs into a private individual’s education expenses should also take a look at the PM CARES Fund too. Modi ji will forgive you too—don’t worry.”
PM CARES Fund Back In Spotlight
The exchange has once again brought the PM CARES Fund into political debate. The fund was established in March 2020 to support relief efforts during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Central government has consistently maintained that PM CARES is not a “public authority” under the Right to Information Act, arguing that it is financed through voluntary public contributions rather than government budget allocations. As a result, RTI applications seeking details about the fund have not been entertained.
With both sides trading allegations, the controversy has expanded from questions over an individual’s educational funding to a broader political debate on financial transparency and public accountability.
