Sunita Somvanshi
An activist’s campaign to inspect government schools in Maharashtra has been followed by an FIR against him and others. Abhijeet Dipke, founder of the Cockroach Janta Party, was booked after a complaint alleged that he and his team entered a government school without authorization.
The incident occurred at a Zilla Parishad Urdu school in Jawali, near Ausa in Latur district. According to the complaint filed by teacher Sayyed Shamshadbano Khairatali, the visit disrupted classes and involved recording video footage inside classrooms. Police registered cases under BNS sections 132, 329(3), 351(2), and 356(2), which concern assault or criminal force against a public servant, house-trespass, criminal intimidation, and criminal defamation respectively.
What makes this incident significant is its broader context. Dipke had been running the “School Thik Karo” campaign—translating to “Fix the School”—which involved visiting government schools to document facility problems. Earlier visits recorded issues including broken windows, dirty washrooms, insufficient drinking water, and damaged benches.
The campaign reflects concerns about government school accountability. Dipke has publicly questioned why ministers and education officials don’t enrol their children in government schools. He has also called for using PM CARES funds to improve government school infrastructure, pointing to questions about resource allocation and educational priorities.
The allegations themselves remain unverified as the investigation continues. Claims about the nature of questioning, student involvement, and whether teachers faced threats originate from the formal complaint filed by school staff. No charges have been proven, and the case is under police investigation at Ausa Police Station.
The Ausa Police Station is handling the investigation. The case will determine whether Dipke’s team violated school access regulations, whether documentation activities crossed legal boundaries, and whether intimidation allegations have substance.
