Bihar government's decision to withdraw cases against NEET-UG protestors marks the latest chapter in a movement that began with a satirical online identity and grew into one of the country's largest student-led campaigns demanding accountability over examination systems.
The Bihar government on Monday announced that it would not take any punitive or retaliatory legal action against individuals who participated in protests over the alleged NEET-UG examination irregularities before 6 pm on July 26. It said the process to withdraw all FIRs, criminal complaints and show-cause notices linked to the protests would begin immediately, while those arrested or detained in connection with the cases would be released.
Also read: CJP launches online fund for protestors' legal aid after NEET-UG paper leak agitation
The announcement comes days after the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which spearheaded the nationwide agitation, called off its protests following the Centre's acceptance of key demands. Earlier on Monday, before Bihar issued its order, the CJP had announced plans to launch a public legal aid fund, saying it feared individual protestors could still face legal action after the demonstrations ended.
From an anonymous satirical social media campaign to nationwide protests that drew students, education reform advocates, activists and opposition leaders, the CJP transformed into the face of a movement centred on examination reforms, paper leaks and accountability.
Abhijeet Dipke
Abhijeet Dipke, who was earlier associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), emerged as one of the central figures in transforming an online post into the wider CJP movement.
Between 2020 and 2023, Dipke worked with the AAP’s social media team, where he created meme-based digital content during the 2020 Delhi Assembly elections. He later served as a communications adviser to the Delhi government’s education department.
While in Boston, Dipke posted on X: “What if all cockroaches come together?”
