Lede: YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has alleged that he was "kidnapped", not detained, from his Gurugram residence by around 20 people in plain clothes on Saturday morning, describing a roughly 22-hour ordeal in which he says he was moved between police stations without access to a lawyer or a phone.
In a video posted on X on Sunday after his release, Rathee said the men entered his house around 7 am while he was sleeping and took him away before he could ask who they were. "I was not detained, I was kidnapped," he said, questioning the manner in which he was taken. He claimed he was not allowed to contact his lawyer or access a phone and that he sustained injuries while being taken out of his bedroom.
Passport display and police version
Rathee also displayed his passport in the video to assert that he is an Indian citizen, rejecting claims that he had not intended to participate in the protest. He described the restrictions imposed ahead of the demonstration as an "unofficial emergency" and said he would continue to raise his voice on issues concerning the country. He further claimed that his movements were being monitored.
Police, however, have described the action as a detention. A police official said on Sunday that Rathee was detained at his residence in Gurugram's Sector 56 on Saturday ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's planned protest at Jantar Mantar and released late on Saturday night; Delhi Police earlier said he was released at 3 am on Sunday. Police sources told NDTV that around 50 personnel were involved in the operation, and one source said he could be detained again or face further legal action if he tried to go to Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders. There was no immediate police reaction to the "kidnapped" allegation, as reported by Kashmir Reader.
Wider crackdown
Rathee's detention came amid an unprecedented security clampdown in Delhi, where more than 7,000 protesters were detained at multiple locations, according to police sources. Several opposition leaders, including former chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar, were also detained while attempting to join the protest. CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were released after being placed under preventive arrest. The demonstration had been called to demand Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, a claim the Election Commission has rejected.
Sources: 'I was kidnapped': YouTuber Dhruv Rathee alleges 22-hour detention ordeal — New Indian Express, Delhi CJP Protest LIVE — NDTV
In a video posted on X on Sunday after his release, Rathee said the men entered his house around 7 am while he was sleeping and took him away before he could ask who they were. "I was not detained, I was kidnapped," he said, questioning the manner in which he was taken. He claimed he was not allowed to contact his lawyer or access a phone and that he sustained injuries while being taken out of his bedroom.
Passport display and police version
Rathee also displayed his passport in the video to assert that he is an Indian citizen, rejecting claims that he had not intended to participate in the protest. He described the restrictions imposed ahead of the demonstration as an "unofficial emergency" and said he would continue to raise his voice on issues concerning the country. He further claimed that his movements were being monitored.
Police, however, have described the action as a detention. A police official said on Sunday that Rathee was detained at his residence in Gurugram's Sector 56 on Saturday ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's planned protest at Jantar Mantar and released late on Saturday night; Delhi Police earlier said he was released at 3 am on Sunday. Police sources told NDTV that around 50 personnel were involved in the operation, and one source said he could be detained again or face further legal action if he tried to go to Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders. There was no immediate police reaction to the "kidnapped" allegation, as reported by Kashmir Reader.
Wider crackdown
Rathee's detention came amid an unprecedented security clampdown in Delhi, where more than 7,000 protesters were detained at multiple locations, according to police sources. Several opposition leaders, including former chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan and Manik Sarkar, were also detained while attempting to join the protest. CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were released after being placed under preventive arrest. The demonstration had been called to demand Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar's resignation over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls, a claim the Election Commission has rejected.
Sources: 'I was kidnapped': YouTuber Dhruv Rathee alleges 22-hour detention ordeal — New Indian Express, Delhi CJP Protest LIVE — NDTV
