YouTuber Dhruv Rathee Detained Ahead of CJP Protest in Delhi
Delhi Police reportedly detained the YouTuber at his Gurugram residence as authorities tightened security ahead of the demonstration at Jantar Mantar.
GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 10th Oct: YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was reportedly detained by Delhi Police at his residence in Gurugram’s Sector 56 on Saturday morning, ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed protest at Jantar Mantar, according to police sources.
Sources said a team of around 50 Delhi Police personnel reached Rathee’s residence and detained him. Rathee had announced his intention to attend the demonstration in a video posted on X on Friday evening.
The reported detention prompted a strong reaction from the CJP, which demanded his “immediate release”. Rathee was expected to join supporters at the protest, which has triggered extensive security arrangements across the national capital.
Rathee Had Joined Bengaluru Protest
Rathee, a prominent YouTuber known for his criticism of the Narendra Modi government, reportedly returned to India from Germany earlier this week. He had also participated in a CJP demonstration in Bengaluru on October 8.
He has a substantial online following, with the figures cited in the report placing his audience at 19.2 million followers on Instagram, 3.3 million on X and 33 million YouTube subscribers.
Delhi Police had earlier denied permission for the proposed protest, citing security considerations and procedural requirements. Authorities have since stepped up preventive detentions and deployed personnel at strategic locations to prevent protesters from reaching the designated site.
Over 400 Detained as Security Tightens
The reported detention came amid a major security operation ahead of the CJP’s planned demonstration against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. More than 400 people were reportedly detained overnight, while hundreds of trains were cancelled and several Delhi Metro stations were closed ahead of the protest.
The Centre deployed more than 20,000 personnel from Delhi Police and the Central Armed Police Forces to maintain law and order, according to the information provided. Security personnel were positioned at strategic locations as authorities sought to prevent unauthorised gatherings and manage the movement of protesters.
The developments have brought renewed attention to the handling of protests in the capital, including the use of preventive detention and restrictions affecting public transport. Further details about the grounds for Rathee’s reported detention and whether he was formally arrested were not provided in the account.
