YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has said he will take legal action against those responsible for his detention ahead of a planned protest in Delhi demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Rathee made the announcement at a press conference in the national capital after meeting senior advocate Kapil Sibal. He was released after being held for nearly 24 hours in connection with the planned demonstration.
The protest was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP), which had planned to gather at Jantar Mantar over the demand for Kumar’s resignation. Delhi Police had denied permission for the demonstration and detained several people ahead of the proposed protest. Rathee was picked up from his residence in Gurugram’s Sector 56 on Saturday morning.
Rathee says he was ‘kidnapped’, plans legal action
After his release, Rathee disputed the description of his removal as a detention. In a video posted on social media, he alleged that people in plain clothes came to his residence and took him away without showing a warrant. He also claimed that he was denied access to his lawyer and was not told where he was being taken.
Rathee described the incident as a “kidnapping” and said he intended to pursue legal action against those he held responsible. His account of the incident remains his allegation, while the circumstances and legality of the detention are matters for official records and any subsequent legal proceedings.
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Speaking at Sunday’s press conference aired on Youtube, Rathee also criticised the police action during the protests and the restrictions imposed across Delhi. He described the situation as an “undeclared emergency” and questioned the restrictions on peaceful political expression.
YouTuber attacks BJP over Delhi protest crackdown
Rathee also levelled criticism at the BJP while speaking about the events surrounding the protest. According to reports, he accused BJP workers of attempting to create a situation in Delhi similar to the unrest witnessed in Nepal and Bangladesh.
He also alleged that major institutions, including the Election Commission, courts and police, had been captured by “two people”. These were Rathee’s political claims made during the press conference and have not been independently established.
The controversy comes amid a wider crackdown on protests in Delhi over demands for the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. Thousands of people were detained during the weekend, including protesters, activists, journalists and political figures.
Also Read | Dhruv Rathee, Pinarayi Vijayan, Arvind Kejriwal: Who were detained ahead of CJP protest?
Rathee’s detention has since become another point of contention in the debate over protest rights and police powers. The Delhi High Court Bar Association also criticised the detention of lawyers and alleged excessive use of force during the October 10 demonstrations.
The legal action announced by Rathee is now likely to put the circumstances surrounding his detention under further scrutiny, particularly his claims regarding how he was taken from his home and the restrictions he says were placed on him while in custody.