A Surat-based Right to Information (RTI) activist has sought an inquiry into the finances of Bhagwanrao Dipke, the father of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke, raising questions over the family’s financial capacity to fund higher education overseas.
RTI activist Amit Tiwari said he has written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and other authorities seeking an investigation into the financial background of Bhagwanrao Dipke, a retired Maharashtra government employee.
According to Tiwari, the inquiry should examine how a retired government employee was able to finance his son’s foreign education.
He has requested authorities to verify the source of funds and determine whether all financial transactions were carried out in accordance with applicable laws.
As of now, there has been no official response from Bhagwanrao Dipke or Abhijeet Dipke regarding the allegations made by the RTI activist.
Questions raised over CJP’s legal defence fund
Apart from seeking a financial probe into Dipke’s father, Tiwari has also questioned the legality of the legal defence fund recently announced by the Cockroach Janta Party to provide legal assistance to its supporters facing criminal cases linked to the agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak.
He has urged the Election Commission to verify whether the Cockroach Janta Party is registered under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951.
According to Tiwari, the announcement of a legal defence fund has raised questions regarding the party’s legal status and its authority to receive financial contributions.
“The Cockroach Janta Party is an unregistered entity but is operating as a political party. If Rs 1 crore has been pledged to it as a legal defence fund, then the Election Commission should verify whether the CJP is registered with it under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” Tiwari said.
He further argued that if the organisation is not registered as a political party, authorities should examine whether it can legally function under that name and receive or collect financial contributions.
GST angle over Rs 1 crore contribution
In a separate representation, Tiwari has also approached the Central GST authorities seeking clarification on the tax implications of the Rs 1 crore contribution announced by senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal.
According to the RTI activist, the GST authorities should examine whether the contribution attracts Goods and Services Tax (GST) under applicable provisions.
He specifically requested officials to determine whether the pledged amount would be liable for 18 per cent GST.
The representation comes after Kapil Sibal announced a contribution of Rs 1 crore towards the legal defence fund created by the CJP to support protesters arrested by the Delhi Police during demonstrations over the alleged NEET paper leak.
No official response has yet been issued by the GST authorities regarding the request.
Dipke falls ill amid controversy
The RTI activist’s representations came on the same day that Abhijeet Dipke fell ill at his residence in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra.
According to news agency PTI, Dipke came downstairs around 11.45 am to meet a group of people waiting near the parking area of his residence.
However, he reportedly began feeling unwell shortly afterwards, moved to another part of the premises where he vomited and then returned upstairs without interacting with the media.
His father, Bhagwan Dipke, said doctors were immediately called to examine him.
Dr Vishal Lahane, who attended to Dipke, said his blood pressure had dropped to 100/60 mmHg and attributed his condition to stress and anxiety.
“Dipke’s blood pressure is slightly low at 100/60. He has been feeling uneasy and nauseated since morning because of stress and anxiety. He vomited a couple of times and has also been suffering from loose motions,” the doctor told reporters.
According to the doctor, Dipke was administered intravenous (IV) fluids and advised complete rest.
He said Dipke was not running a fever and was expected to recover with adequate rest. However, if his condition failed to improve, doctors would conduct blood tests before deciding the next course of treatment.
Second health setback in recent days
This is the second time in recent days that Dipke has reported health issues.
During the student protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar on July 25, Dipke had publicly disclosed that he had been diagnosed with typhoid and was undergoing treatment after remaining unwell for several days.
The latest health episode comes as the CJP and its leadership continue to remain under public and political scrutiny following the protests and the subsequent announcement of legal assistance for those arrested during the agitation.
Meanwhile, the representations submitted by the RTI activist are yet to receive formal responses from the Election Commission, GST authorities or other agencies. It also remains to be seen whether any official inquiry is initiated into the issues raised in the complaints.
