A day after an RTI activist called for an investigation into Abhijeet Dipke’s family finances, the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder insisted that a Boston University scholarship alongside a student loan covered his studies in the United States. In a conversation with senior journalist Barkha Dutt, Dipke dismissed suggestions that his foreign education was bankrolled by unexplained family wealth, presenting his scholarship award letter as proof and noting that he remains responsible for paying back the loan.
The clarification follows complaints lodged on August 1 by Surat-based activist Amit Tiwari with various authorities, including the Maharashtra government. Tiwari questioned how a former Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation junior engineer, earning roughly Rs 60,000-65,000 a month, could afford to send his children abroad for university.
Addressing the broader issue of political funding during the interview, Dipke explained that the CJP intends to rely entirely on public crowdfunding, promising total transparency regarding all future donations. Pointing to the recent nationwide anti-NEET paper leak demonstrations, he stressed that ordinary citizens sustained the movement by bringing their own water and donating food. He also claimed that several Delhi Police officers privately supported the cause, offering water bottles on the condition of anonymity because their own children were preparing for the exams.
The party’s financial backing and legal standing have drawn sharper scrutiny following senior advocate Kapil Sibal’s announcement of a Rs 1 crore legal aid fund for arrested protesters. In response, Tiwari has petitioned the Election Commission of India to inspect both the CJP’s official status and Sibal’s financial assistance.
CJP spokesperson Vaishnavi Gaur rejected the allegations as politically driven and called out the activist for singling out a private individual’s university fees, suggesting on X that those pressing for investigations should direct similar curiosity towards public funds like PM CARES instead.
Also read: Kangana's fresh dig at Hrithik goes viral
Follow us
