Supreme Court seeks Centre, CBI response on plea against CJP's monetisation of court remarks

The Supreme Court on Tuesday (August 11, 2026) issued notice to the Union government and multiple central agencies on a petition seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the activities of the “Cockroach Janta Party” (CJP) and the commercial exploitation and monetisation of oral remarks made by judges during court proceedings.

A three-judge Bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant sought responses from the Union government, the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology, the Bar Council of India and the CBI. The petition was filed by Supreme Court advocate Raja Choudhary, represented by advocate Rajesh Singh Chouhan.

The petition challenges the organised commercial exploitation and distortion of solemn court hearings into a “viral spectacle” online. It specifically refers to the emergence of the ‘Cockroach Janta Party’, a digital-political formation that gained attention after media reports suggested that CJI Surya Kant had used the word “cockroach” in reference to fake law degree holders during a hearing on May 15. The CJI clarified the next day that he was misquoted by sections of the media and expressed respect for the youth of the country.

Mr. Choudhary argued that his plea is not an attack on fair criticism, democratic dissent, satire, or constitutionally protected free speech. Instead, it seeks to address the selective clipping, meme-ification and commercial circulation of court proceedings, which he said are detached from their constitutional and procedural context. The petition said that such fragments fuel outrage algorithms, trolling cultures and emotional mobilisation, transforming judicial hearings into monetised digital content.

The petition also contended that vernacular and culturally direct forms of institutional speech, often associated with rural and non-metropolitan traditions, are subjected to disproportionate ridicule in elite digital ecosystems. It argued that the spontaneous use of metaphorical expressions like “cockroach” reflects institutional frustration and procedural anxiety over the deteriorating standards of legal professionals.

Drawing on literary references, the petition noted that metaphorical imagery involving animals and insects has historically been used in literature and jurisprudence. It cited Franz Kafka's The Metamorphosis, where vermin imagery symbolically describes alienation and institutional absurdity. Similarly, Indian constitutional discourse has employed metaphors like “jungle raj” and “watchdog” as tools for commentary.

The petition also sought a CBI probe into the proliferation of fake law degrees across the country, a matter that was at the heart of the original hearing that led to the CJI's remark.

The incident involving the CJP has grown into a political flashpoint. The petition refers to protests linked to the CJP over the NEET-UG paper leaks and the Delhi Police's crackdown on agitating students on July 20. Tensions have been high, with opposition parties pressing for a statement from the Home Minister during the ongoing Monsoon Session of Parliament.

The virtual court hearing mechanism was muted during Tuesday's proceedings, and media personnel present in the Supreme Court had to enter the courtroom to follow the case.

The court's notice marks the beginning of a legal process that will examine the intersection of free speech, social media virality and the dignity of judicial proceedings.