‘Sent Goons To Kidnap Me’: Dhruv Rathee Speaks Out After Release From Detention

YouTuber and political commentator Dhruv Rathee on Sunday claimed to have been “kidnapped” from his residence in Gurugram, instead of detained, as he made his first public remarks after being released by the police in the city.

“They literally sent goons to kidnap me from my own home while I was asleep,” Rathee said in a video message, describing the events that preceded his detention on Saturday, October 10.

Rathee was arrested before he was slated to join the “Jantar Mantar 2.0” protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) in Delhi. The demonstration was targeted at pressuring the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar for alleged irregularities in the Electoral Rolls Special Intensive Revision (SIR).

In his video statement, Rathee sought to counter reports questioning his citizenship status. Holding up an Indian passport, he said he was an Indian citizen and had the same rights as other citizens to participate in protests.

“Here is my passport. I am, was and will remain an Indian citizen,” he said.

Rathee accused a section of the mainstream media of spreading what he described as rumours about his nationality. He alleged that claims portraying him as a foreign passport holder were being used to discredit his participation in the proposed protest and justify his detention.

The YouTuber, known for his criticism of the BJP-led government, maintained that his citizenship should not be misrepresented in public discussions surrounding the incident.

Rathee Alleges He Was Taken From Home While Sleeping

Recounting the incident, Rathee claimed that around 20 people in plain clothes entered his home at approximately 7 am on Saturday while he was asleep.

He alleged that the individuals took him away before he could establish who they were. Rathee also claimed he was dragged from his bedroom and sustained injuries during the process.

According to his account, he was taken to multiple police stations and was not allowed to contact his lawyer or access a phone for approximately 22 to 23 hours.

Rathee further alleged that he was released at around 3 am on Sunday, after spending several hours in custody. These allegations were made in his video statement; the supplied report did not include a detailed response from the police addressing each claim.

Police Warn Of Possible Further Action

Rathee’s detention took place as police tightened security across Delhi to prevent protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar for the CJP-led demonstration.

The protest sought the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities linked to the SIR exercise. CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were also detained at Delhi airport on Saturday before being released by an executive magistrate on Sunday.

A police source cited in the report said legal action could be initiated against Rathee again if he attempted to reach Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders.

The incident has sparked new furor around the police crackdown on protesters and supporters of the CJP. Meanwhile, Rathee extended his gratitude to his supporters for their support and reiterated his plans to keep speaking up for political matters.