Dhruv Rathee Freed at 3 AM, Says He Was "Kidnapped", Not Detainedਧਰੁਵ ਰਾਠੀ ਦੀ ਤੜਕੇ 3 ਵਜੇ ਰਿਹਾਈ, ਦਾਅਵਾ: ਮੈਨੂੰ ਗ੍ਰਿਫ਼ਤਾਰ ਨਹੀਂ, ਅਗਵਾ ਕੀਤਾ ਗਿਆ

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was released around 3 AM on Sunday, 11 October 2026, after being detained ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's proposed protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. In a video statement released hours later, Rathee said he had not been detained but "kidnapped", alleging that plainclothes men dragged him from his Gurugram home.

What did Rathee allege?

Rathee said about 20 people in plain clothes arrived at his residence in Kendriya Vihar Society, Sector 56, Gurugram, at around 7 AM on Saturday while he was asleep. His mother opened the door, and the men entered and dragged him from his bedroom down the stairs. "I am using the word kidnap here because this is not an arrest," he said in the video statement.

He alleged that he was injured during the incident, that he was not allowed to meet his lawyer, and that his parents were assaulted. He denied reports that he had given an undertaking to the police, and showed what he said was his Indian passport to counter claims questioning his citizenship. Thanking activist Sonam Wangchuk for threatening a hunger strike over the detentions, Rathee called the episode an "unofficial emergency" and accused the Prime Minister of pushing the country toward dictatorship. "If this thing can happen to me, then it can happen to you, too," he said.

The police version

Officials said Rathee was detained at around 9:30 AM on Saturday and released at around 3 AM on Sunday, when he was handed over to his family. A police officer told PTI that Rathee could be detained again or face further legal action if he attempted to reach Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders. The police characterise the action as preventive detention ahead of the protest.

The wider crackdown

The detention took place amid a major security operation across Delhi. More than 3,000 anti-CEC protesters were detained, including former chief ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee and Pinarayi Vijayan. CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were detained on landing in Delhi and were produced before a Special Executive Magistrate at Delhi Cantt on Sunday, where they were released on a surety bond with conditions to maintain peace for one year.

Delhi Police registered 20 FIRs in connection with the protest crackdown, with assault on police personnel among the charges. The Supreme Court, hearing the matter, told the Centre to remove barricades "unless absolutely warranted" and observed that the right to protest exists but must be exercised within the Police Act. The India Youth Congress has called for mass mobilisation in Delhi on October 12.

Was Dhruv Rathee arrested or detained?

Police describe it as preventive detention ahead of the CJP protest. Rathee insists he was kidnapped by plainclothes men and says he was not arrested or detained.

Why was he detained?

He was taken into custody ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party's planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the voter-roll revision exercise (SIR).

Have the detained CJP leaders been released?

Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka were produced before a magistrate on Sunday and released on a surety bond with conditions to maintain peace and good behaviour for one year.