YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained at his residence in Gurugram on Saturday morning, October 10, ahead of a planned protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar. According to Gurugram Police, the action followed requests from Delhi and Gurugram police teams asking Rathee not to travel to the national capital for the demonstration, which had not received permission.
Rathee, who is based in Germany and had recently travelled to India, was detained at his residence in Kendriya Vihar society in Sector 56, Gurugram. A senior Gurugram Police official said officers had visited his home and urged him to comply with the law and help maintain public order.
The official said the police proceeded with the detention after Rathee declined their requests not to travel to Delhi. Police personnel were also deployed at his residence and were expected to remain there until further orders.
Heavy Security Ahead of CJP Protest
Delhi witnessed heightened security arrangements ahead of the CJP-led demonstration at Jantar Mantar. More than 40,000 Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces personnel were reportedly deployed, with barricades and spike strips installed across security points.
The protest, led by CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke, is aimed at demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The party has raised allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The planned gathering has drawn attention amid concerns surrounding electoral processes and the right to peaceful political expression. However, the protest had not received official permission, according to the police account cited in the report.
CJP Condemns Dhruv Rathee’s Detention
The Cockroach Janta Party confirmed Rathee’s detention through a post on social media platform X. The organisation accused the authorities of attempting to silence people who question the government and expressed strong opposition to the police action.
In a separate statement shared through its social media channels, the CJP described the detention as a crackdown on democratic dissent linked to concerns over electoral roll irregularities. It demanded Rathee’s immediate and unconditional release, while also claiming that hundreds of other citizens and student activists had been taken into custody.
These allegations reflect the party’s position and have not been independently established by the information provided in the report.
Rathee Had Urged People to Join the Protest
Before his detention, Rathee had shared a video on social media platforms, including X, encouraging people to gather at Jantar Mantar on Saturday for the CJP protest.
The incident places the YouTuber at the centre of a politically sensitive confrontation involving police restrictions, electoral roll concerns and a planned public demonstration. Further developments will depend on the authorities’ actions and any subsequent statements from Rathee or the organisers.
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