Archive · 11 Oct 2026
Dhruv Rathee Says He Was Kidnapped Before CJP Protest
Dhruv Rathee said people in plain clothes came to his home early on Saturday and took him away.
He said they did not tell him who they were or why they were taking him.
Rathee said he was taken to different police stations and was hurt while being removed from his bedroom.
He said he could not use a phone or speak with his lawyer for many hours.
Reports give different estimates of how long this lasted: about 20 hours or 22–23 hours.
Rathee called the incident a kidnapping, while reports also described him as detained.
He showed his passport and said he is an Indian citizen.
He said he had planned to attend a protest in Delhi on October 10.
The protest was called to demand the election chief’s resignation over concerns about changes to voter lists.
Dhruv Rathee said about 20 people in plain clothes entered his Gurugram home around 7 a.m. Saturday and took him away.
He alleged the group did not identify themselves, and that he was taken to multiple police stations and injured while being removed from his bedroom.
Rathee said he could not contact his lawyer or use a phone for about 20 hours in one account and 22–23 hours in another.
He described the incident as a kidnapping, while the reports also described him as having been detained ahead of the protest.
The planned October 10 protest at Jantar Mantar called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over concerns about electoral-roll revisions.
- Who
- YouTuber Dhruv Rathee said people in plain clothes took him from his Gurugram home.
- What
- Rathee alleged he was kidnapped, taken to multiple police stations, and denied phone and lawyer access; reports also described him as detained.
- When
- The incident was said to have taken place around 7 a.m. on Saturday; Rathee discussed it in a video posted Sunday. The planned protest was October 10.
- Where
- Rathee’s residence in Gurugram and multiple police stations; the planned protest was at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
- Why
- The reported taking occurred ahead of a planned protest calling for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation over concerns about the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.
Rathee’s account
Reported detention framing
How he was taken
Rathee’s account
Rathee said people who took him did not identify themselves or explain the legal basis, and called the incident a kidnapping.
Reported detention framing
The reports also described him as detained at his Gurugram residence ahead of the protest.
Conditions and duration
Rathee’s account
Rathee alleged he was denied phone and lawyer access, sustained injuries, and was held for around 20–23 hours.
Reported detention framing
The reports provide differing duration estimates—about 20 hours in one account and 22–23 hours in another—and do not provide a separate official account of the conditions.
Restrictions around the protest
Rathee’s account
Rathee called the situation an “unofficial emergency,” alleged he was being monitored and effectively under house arrest, and criticised the authorities’ handling of the protest.
Reported detention framing
The articles report these as Rathee’s allegations and do not include a response from authorities.
- Person making the allegations
- YouTuber Dhruv Rathee
- Reported time people arrived
- Around 7 a.m. on Saturday
- Number of people, according to Rathee
- About 20, dressed in plain clothes
- Reported period without phone or lawyer access
- About 20 hours in one account; around 22–23 hours in another
- Planned protest
- October 10 at Jantar Mantar, Delhi
- Protest demand
- Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation
- Issue cited by protest organisers
- Concerns about the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls
