Former IPS Bhaskar Rao Seeks Probe Into Dhruv Rathee’s Visa Status
Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner asks the Union Home Ministry to verify the YouTuber’s citizenship, immigration status and eligibility to participate in a political protest.
GG News Bureau
Bengaluru, 10th Oct: Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner and retired IPS officer Bhaskar Rao has written to the Union Home Secretary seeking verification of YouTuber Dhruv Rathee’s citizenship and visa status following his participation in an anti-Special Intensive Revision (SIR) protest in Bengaluru on October 8.
In his letter, Rao asked the Ministry of Home Affairs to examine whether Rathee was permitted under the conditions governing his stay in India to participate in or address a political demonstration concerning the country’s electoral process and constitutional institutions.
Rathee, who is reported to be a German citizen, attended a protest at Freedom Park alongside actor-activist Prakash Raj, Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) founder Abhijeet Dipke and other participants. The gathering criticised the Election Commission of India over the SIR exercise and raised concerns about electoral-roll revisions.
What Did Bhaskar Rao Ask the Home Ministry?
Rao sought verification of Rathee’s current nationality, the passport used to enter India, the category of visa or other immigration permission under which he is staying, the declared purpose of his visit and the conditions attached to his stay.
He also asked authorities to examine whether Rathee holds an Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) card or another status that could affect the rules applicable to his activities in India.
The former police commissioner further called for scrutiny of Rathee’s participation in similar political demonstrations during previous visits and sought appropriate legal action if any violation of applicable laws or visa conditions is established.
Rao has maintained that his request concerns compliance with immigration rules rather than disagreement with Rathee’s political opinions.
Citizenship and Any Visa Violation Remain Unverified
The representation is a request for official verification, not a finding of wrongdoing. Reports have described Rathee as a German citizen, but his current citizenship and the specific immigration permission under which he entered or is staying in India have not been independently established in the available reporting.
No confirmed finding of a visa violation has been reported in connection with the letter. Whether any restrictions apply would depend on Rathee’s actual immigration status and the conditions attached to it, as assessed by the competent authorities.
The development comes amid a wider political dispute over the SIR of electoral rolls, with Opposition groups and activists raising concerns about transparency and possible voter deletions, while the Election Commission’s role remains at the centre of the debate.
