YouTuber and political commentator Dhruv Rathee was released late Saturday night after being detained by Delhi Police ahead of the Cockroach Janata Party’s (CJP) planned protest at Jantar Mantar, a police officer said.
Rathee was reportedly detained from his residence in Sector 56, Gurugram, on the morning of October 10, as security was tightened across the national capital to prevent protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar. The demonstration was organised to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest centred on allegations of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, an issue that has triggered demonstrations by opposition groups.
According to a police officer, Rathee could face further detention or legal action if he attempted to reach Jantar Mantar in violation of prohibitory orders.
The CJP alleged in a post on X that around 50 police personnel in plain clothes arrived at Rathee’s residence at approximately 8 am on October 10 and detained him.
Other CJP members, including Abhijeet Dipke, Saurav Das and Ashutosh Ranka, were also placed under preventive arrest before being released by an executive magistrate, according to reports.
Delhi Police detained thousands of protesters, including political leaders and party supporters, as authorities restricted access to the designated protest site. Those detained were subsequently released later that night.
The demonstration sought to highlight concerns over the voter-list revision exercise and demand the removal of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Allegations of irregularities in the electoral-roll revision process remain contested.