Dhruv Rathee alleges ‘kidnapping’ by Delhi Police after release from detention

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, who was detained by Delhi Police ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar on Saturday, has alleged that he was “kidnapped” from his home by around 20 people in plain clothes. He was released late in the night, a police officer said.

Rathee was picked up from his home in Sector 56 of Gurugram on Saturday as police tightened security across the national capital to stop protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar. The protest was called to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the voter roll clean-up exercise, known as the Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

“He can be detained again or further legal action might be taken if he tries to go to Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders,” a police officer told news agency PTI.

After his release, Rathee claimed that he had not been detained but “kidnapped”. “I was not arrested or detained, I was KIDNAPPED. Thank you for your support, here's the full story,” Rathee wrote in a post on X after returning home.

Rathee said that around 20 people entered his house at about 7 am on October 10 while he was sleeping. He alleged that the men, who were dressed in plain clothes, walked into his bedroom, dragged him out and took him away in a vehicle. He also claimed that he was not told the legal grounds for the action or allowed to contact a lawyer.

In the video, Rathee showed his passport and maintained that he was an Indian citizen. Dismissing what he called rumours about his citizenship, he said he was entitled to the same rights as any other citizen.

Rathee said his detention and the action taken against other protesters raised questions about citizens’ freedom to voice dissent. He urged people to look beyond their personal opinions of him and consider the broader implications of such incidents.