Defamation lawsuits involving Cockroach Janta Party

Legal disputes involving the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and various individuals have emerged in the Delhi High Court regarding allegations of defamation and false reporting.

In one instance, activist Vijay Sherawat filed a Rs 5 crore lawsuit against journalist Sudhir Chaudhary, Essprit Productions, and Prasar Bharati. Sherawat alleges he was falsely identified as ‘anti-national’ during a broadcast of the programme ‘DECODE’ regarding CJP protests. He claims the broadcast incorrectly attributed statements to him about the destruction of Parliament.

Separately, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia filed a ₹2 crore defamation suit against CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, co-convenor Ashutosh Ranka, and journalist Saurav Das. This litigation follows the circulation of an AI-generated graphic on social media that allegedly falsely attributed remarks concerning Swatantra Bhardwaj to Bhatia.

During a hearing on the Bhatia suit, the Delhi High Court directed CJP leaders to remove the disputed social media posts within 24 hours. Justice Tushar Rao Gedela noted that while youth have a right to protest and express opinions, such expressions must be verified and communicated responsibly. The court issued summons and directed X to provide subscriber information for the relevant accounts.

In a related development, the Supreme Court of India expressed concern regarding the alleged harassment and intimidation of a 14-year-old girl who participated in CJP protests. Chief Justice of India Surya Kant emphasized that violence or intimidation against a child must not be taken lightly and directed authorities to provide status reports on the security and legal proceedings involving the minor.