YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was detained by police from his residence in Gurugram on Saturday, October 10, 2026, ahead of a planned protest at Delhi’s Jantar Mantar organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), according to media reports. Rathee was reportedly preparing to join the demonstration, which was called to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
According to reports, police personnel reached Rathee’s residence in Sector 56, Gurugram, and detained him before he could travel to the protest venue. The development came amid heightened security arrangements in the national capital, with authorities taking preventive action against demonstrators planning to gather at Jantar Mantar.
Protest Over Electoral Roll Revisions
The proposed demonstration centred on allegations of irregularities in electoral roll revisions and concerns raised by protesters about the electoral process. The protesters were demanding accountability from the Election Commission, including the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The Election Commission has faced criticism over voter-list revisions, while officials have maintained that electoral roll verification is part of the regular process. The allegations surrounding the revisions remain a key point of political contention.
The Delhi Police had denied permission for the protest earlier in the week, citing security concerns and procedural requirements. The authorities also detained other demonstrators and activists as part of preventive measures to prevent the gathering from taking place. <Cite refs={[“turn322839view0″,”turn322839view2”]}/>
CJP Demands Rathee’s Release
The Cockroach Janta Party condemned Rathee’s detention and called for his immediate and unconditional release, along with that of other detained citizens and student activists. The party alleged that the action was intended to suppress dissent over concerns surrounding electoral roll revisions. <Cite refs={[“turn322839view0”]}/>
The incident unfolded amid a wider security crackdown in Delhi, with barricades, police deployments and restrictions imposed around key areas as authorities moved to prevent the planned demonstration. The protest and the subsequent detentions have brought renewed attention to the debate over electoral transparency, public demonstrations and the right to express political dissent. <Cite refs={[“turn322839view2”]}/>
As of October 10, further details about Rathee’s status following the detention had not been established in the reports cited here.
