Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Dhruv Rathee Alleges Kidnapping Ahead of Delhi CEC Protest
Dhruv Rathee is a YouTuber who makes videos about different subjects.
He said people in plain clothes took him from his home before a planned protest in Delhi.
He said they brought him to several police stations.
Rathee also said he could not use his phone or talk to his lawyer for about 22 or 23 hours.
He described what happened as a kidnapping, not a detention.
These details are his claims as reported in the article.
Rathee first posted travel videos on YouTube in 2014.
He began making political commentary videos in 2016 and later built a team to help with his work.
Dhruv Rathee said plainclothes people took him from his home before a planned October 10 protest in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Rathee alleged about 20 people entered his residence around 7 a.m. Saturday and took him to multiple police stations.
He said he could not use his phone or speak with his lawyer for about 22–23 hours, and was injured as he was removed from his bedroom.
Rathee said he was “not detained” but “kidnapped”; the article reports his allegations and does not provide a response from authorities.
Rathee studied engineering, renewable energy, economics and political science, and began uploading YouTube videos in 2014 before turning to political commentary in 2016.
- Who
- YouTuber Dhruv Rathee; he alleged that about 20 people in plain clothes took him from his residence.
- What
- Rathee alleged he was taken to multiple police stations and denied access to his phone and lawyer for about 22–23 hours.
- When
- The alleged removal took place around 7 a.m. on Saturday; the article refers to a planned protest on October 10 but gives no year for the incident.
- Where
- Rathee’s residence and several police stations; the planned protest was in Delhi.
- Why
- The article says the alleged incident occurred ahead of a planned protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar; it does not establish the reason the people took Rathee.
Rathee’s account
Authorities’ account
How the incident should be described
Rathee’s account
Rathee said he was kidnapped, not detained, and alleged he was taken by people whose identities he could not establish.
Authorities’ account
The article provides no account or response from police or other authorities, so their position is not reported.
Access to phone and lawyer
Rathee’s account
Rathee alleged he was denied access to his phone and the chance to speak with his lawyer for about 22–23 hours.
Authorities’ account
The article does not report an official response to this allegation.
- Allegation
- Rathee said people in plain clothes took him from his home and called the incident a kidnapping.
- Approximate group size
- Nearly 20 people, according to Rathee.
- Time at home
- Around 7 a.m. Saturday, according to Rathee.
- Time without phone or lawyer
- About 22–23 hours, according to Rathee.
- Planned protest
- October 10 in Delhi, against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
- YouTube start
- Rathee began uploading videos in 2014, initially travel vlogs.
- Political commentary
- He uploaded his first political commentary video on September 16, 2016.
- Education
- His official website says he earned degrees in mechanical engineering and renewable energy, and pursued a second bachelor's degree in economics and political science.