'I was kidnapped': YouTuber Dhruv Rathee breaks silence after release from detention
PTC News Desk: Popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee issued his first statement on Sunday after being released from Delhi Police detention, claiming that he was not simply detained but “kidnapped”.
Rathee was taken from his home in Gurugram by Delhi Police on Saturday, October 10, ahead of his planned participation in the Cockroach Janta Party’s (CJP) proposed ‘Jantar Mantar 2.0’ protest in Delhi.
"They literally sent goons to kidnap me from my own home while I was asleep," he said in a video message.
In a video statement, Rathee thanked his followers for their support during his detention. He also addressed confusion over his citizenship by showing his Indian passport on camera and accusing a section of the mainstream media of spreading false information.
“Here is my passport. I am, was and will remain an Indian citizen,” Rathee said.
He rejected what he described as “outright lies” intended to discredit his attempt to join the CJP protest and justify his detention. Rathee said he had been wrongly portrayed as someone holding a foreign passport and stressed that he had the same right as any other Indian citizen to participate in protests.
“I am an Indian citizen, and I have the same rights as any ordinary citizen,” he said.
Rathee shares details of his detention
Describing the incident, Rathee claimed that around 20 people in plain clothes entered his home at about 7 am on Saturday while he was sleeping. He alleged that they took him away before he could ask who they were.
According to Rathee, he was taken to different police stations and was not allowed to contact his lawyer or use a phone for around 22 to 23 hours.
He also claimed that he suffered injuries while being taken out of his bedroom.
Rathee was released at around 3 am on Sunday.
A police source said further legal action could be taken against him if he tried to reach Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders.
His detention came as Delhi Police increased security across the capital to prevent protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar for the planned CJP-led demonstration. The party had called for the protest to demand the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities related to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
- PTC NEWS
