YouTuber Dhruv Rathee released from detention, a day after October 10 Delhi protest

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was released by the Crime Branch, Gurugram, around 2 a.m. on Sunday (October 11, 2026).

A spokesperson for the Gurugram police has said that no charges were pressed against him. “He can be detained again, or further legal action might be taken if he tries to go to Jantar Mantar despite prohibitory orders,” a police source said.

Follow the Anti-CEC protest updates on October 11, 2026.

In a video posted on his X handle, Mr. Rathee alleged that he was neither arrested nor detained, but instead he was kidnapped, adding that police personnel came to his home in plainclothes and took him away.

Addressing rumours about his citizenship, Mr. Rathee displayed his passport in the video and asserted that he is an Indian citizen. He also rejected claims that he had not intended to participate in the protest.

Mr. Rathee criticised the restrictions imposed ahead of the protest and described the situation as an “unofficial emergency”. He said he would continue to raise his voice on issues concerning the country.

Mr. Rathee was detained from his residence in Gurugram’s Sector 56 on Saturday (October 10) as police stepped up security across the national capital to prevent protesters from reaching Jantar Mantar for a demonstration demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities related to the SIR.

The detention came amid an unprecedented security clampdown in Delhi, where more than 7,000 protesters were detained at multiple locations, police sources said.

Several opposition leaders, including former Chief Ministers Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee, Pinarayi Vijayan, and Manik Sarkar, were also detained while attempting to join the protest.

CJP leaders Abhijeet Dipke, Ashutosh Ranka and Saurav Das were placed under preventive arrest after their detention from the airport.

Police are likely to register multiple FIRs in connection with the alleged assaults on personnel during the protest, a senior officer said.

(With inputs from PTI.)