Brief

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee claims kidnapping and assault by Delhi police

Rathee says he was taken from his Gurugram home by men he describes as police, held for nearly a day and released without formal arrest.

By Felo News Desk · Published Sun, 11 Oct 2026 18:58:24 GMT

Delhi police are accused of kidnapping and assaulting YouTuber and political activist Dhruv Rathee during a 23‑hour detention ahead of a protest by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar, Gulf News reported on October 11, 2026.

What happened

Rathee says the incident began around 7 a.m. on Saturday when about 20 men forced entry into his Gurugram, Sector 56 home, pushed his mother aside and seized him while he was still asleep. He alleges the men did not identify themselves, dragged him downstairs, and placed him in a police vehicle without allowing him to put on slippers. According to Rathee, his phone and his parents’ phones were confiscated, preventing the family from recording the event.

He says he was moved between police stations and confined for roughly 22‑23 hours, during which his requests to contact a lawyer were denied and he was not allowed access to his phone. He was released late Saturday night, but claims he remained under unofficial house arrest, with his movements closely monitored.

What was said

In a post on X, Rathee wrote, “I was not arrested or detained, I was KIDNAPPED,” and thanked supporters for their backing. He questioned whether such treatment could be justified in a democratic country, adding, “Narendra Modi has turned India into a dictatorship. This is an undeclared Emergency.” He also displayed his Indian passport on video to refute claims that he held a foreign passport.

How it came about

The alleged kidnapping occurred ahead of a CJP‑organized protest at Jantar Mantar demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. Earlier, Delhi police had detained nearly 1,000 protesters at the same site on October 2, 2026, according to Felo News coverage. The police also barred entry to the Bangla Sahib Gurdwara on October 10, 2026, as part of the broader security operation surrounding the protest.

Key facts

Dhruv Rathee says he was taken from his Gurugram home by men he describes as police at around 7 a.m. on Saturday. (gulfnews.com)
He alleges he was held for 22‑23 hours, denied access to a lawyer and his phone. (gulfnews.com)
Rathee was released late Saturday night but says he remained under unofficial house arrest. (gulfnews.com)