NEW DELHI: A Surat-based Right to Information (RTI) activist has sought an inquiry into the financial background of Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke’s family, questioning how his retired government employee father financed his higher education abroad.
The activist, Amit Tiwari, has also written to the Election Commission of India (ECI) and tax authorities seeking scrutiny of the Rs 1 crore legal defence fund announced by senior advocate and Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal for CJP protesters facing police cases.
In his representations, Tiwari sought an examination of the financial status of Dipke’s father, Bhagwanrao Dipke, citing his status as a retired Maharashtra government employee and raising questions over the funding of his son’s overseas education.
He also questioned the legal status of the Cockroach Janta Party, contending that it was operating as a political party despite allegedly not being registered with the Election Commission.
“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 under Section 29A of the Representation of the People Act, 1951,” Tiwari said.
“If it is not registered, then its operation under the name of a political party and the collection or receipt of funds may require examination,” he added.
Tiwari has also approached the Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC), seeking clarification on whether the proposed contribution to the legal defence fund would attract Goods and Services Tax (GST).
The representations come days after Kapil Sibal announced a contribution of Rs 1 crore towards a legal defence fund set up by the CJP to provide legal assistance to protesters booked during the agitation over the alleged NEET paper leak.
There was no immediate response from the CJP, Dipke or Sibal to the allegations.
