YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained from his home in Gurugram on October 11 after police warned him against attending a protest in Bengaluru over alleged voter-list irregularities, according to a report by Navbharat Times – Gurgaon. Police said the preventive action was taken because the gathering had not received permission and restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita were in force in Delhi.
The report said around 30 police personnel in plain clothes reached Rathee’s residence in Central Vihar at about 7.30 am. He was taken to the Crime Branch office in Sector 39, Gurugram. Police officials cited in the report said Rathee had been warned not to participate in the protest, which was linked to demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and criticism of the Election Commission of India.
The reported detention came as members of the so-called Cockroach Janata Party, or CJP, and political supporters planned to gather at Jantar Mantar in Delhi. The report said the protest was connected to allegations of irregularities in voter lists. It did not provide details of the specific allegations or the proposed route and format of the gathering.
Delhi Police said the purpose of the action was preventive and intended to avoid any untoward incident. An officer told the publication that such detention could continue for up to 24 hours. A police team reportedly remained deployed near Central Vihar after Rathee was taken away.
Rathee’s wife, Julie, separately appealed on social media for his release. In an Instagram Story, she said her husband was missing, his phone was switched off and the phones of his friends were also unavailable. She appealed to Delhi Police to release him from custody. The report did not include a response from Rathee, his legal representatives or the Election Commission.
The report also said that several office-bearers of the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party, along with members of other political parties, were allegedly placed under house arrest or otherwise prevented from travelling to Jantar Mantar. It did not specify how many people were detained or identify the legal orders applied in each case.
The episode places attention on how preventive policing is used when authorities anticipate an unauthorised political gathering. Under Section 163 of the BNSS, authorities can issue directions to prevent obstruction, danger to human life, disturbance of public tranquillity or rioting. The supplied report, however, does not reproduce the relevant order or state the exact geographical limits and duration of the restrictions.
Rathee, who is based in Germany and is known for political and current-affairs videos, was in India to attend the protest, according to the report. The next official step identified by police was the continuation of detention for a period that could extend up to 24 hours, after which authorities would be expected to clarify his release or any further legal action.
