Dhruv Rathee Detained At Gurugram Residence Ahead Of CJP Protest In Delhi

Germany-based YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained at his residence in Kendriya Vihar society in Gurugram’s Sector 56 on Saturday morning after he allegedly refused requests from Gurugram and Delhi Police not to travel to the national capital to participate in a protest for which permission had not been granted, police said.

Delhi has been placed under heightened security, with more than 40,000 Delhi Police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel deployed. Barricades and spike strips have also been installed ahead of the Abhijeet Dipke-led Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar.

The protesters are demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

A senior Gurugram Police official said a Delhi Police team had visited Rathee’s residence and asked him not to travel to Delhi for the demonstration.

“Delhi police also communicated the scenario with us after which our teams also reached his home and urged him to comply with the law and help in maintaining peace,” the official said.

The official added that Rathee was detained after he declined repeated requests not to travel to the national capital.

“We would have preferred not to detain him in case Rathee had listened to the law enforcement agencies,” the official said.

Gurugram Police personnel have been deployed outside Rathee’s residence and will remain there until further orders, officials said.

CJP Condemns Dhruv Rathee’s Detention

The CJP confirmed Rathee’s detention in a post on X, accusing the authorities of attempting to suppress dissent.

“The Dictator is TERRIFIED of young people who question its wrongdoings and refuse to stay silent!” the outfit wrote.

In a separate statement shared on social media, the organisation condemned what it described as the Delhi Police’s “high-handed detention of Social Activist and Influencer Dhruv Rathee”.

The CJP alleged that the detention was part of a wider government crackdown intended to silence democratic dissent over electoral roll irregularities.

The outfit demanded Rathee’s “immediate and unconditional release”, along with that of hundreds of other citizens and student activists it claimed were in custody.

Rathee Had Urged People To Join Jantar Mantar Protest

Rathee had recently travelled to India and, in a video shared on social media platforms, including X, called on people to gather at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on Saturday for the CJP demonstration.

The protest centres on allegations of irregularities in the SIR exercise and demands for CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation.

Police have intensified security arrangements across Delhi ahead of the planned demonstration, citing the lack of official permission for the protest.