I was kidnapped, not arrested: Dhruv Rathee

Popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has alleged that he was kidnapped from his residence by plainclothes individuals rather than lawfully detained, describing his ordeal in a social media post following his release on Sunday (October 11).

Rathee, a vocal critic of the ruling NDA administration and a supporter of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi, was taken into custody by Gurugram Police on Saturday from his residence in Sector 56 ahead of a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar.

"If I had gone to the protest, I might have been detained. But they kidnapped me while I was sleeping. I later found out that over 50 people were standing outside my house. I was dragged out of my home like a criminal," Rathee stated in his post.

The detention was part of a widespread police crackdown across the capital aimed at preventing demonstrators from assembling at Jantar Mantar. The rally, organized by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Police released Rathee on Sunday, but official sources cited by news agency PTI warned that fresh legal action and re-detention will follow if he attempts to defy restrictions and join protests at Jantar Mantar.

-SA