Dhruv Rathee a Germany-based Indian YouTube was detained by Delhi Police from his Gurugram residence , ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party’s planned protest at Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Rathee had returned to India to take part in the CJP-led demonstration. His detention came as police stepped up action against several leaders and supporters ahead of the protest in the national capital. The development has brought the YouTuber, who is known for his political commentary, back into the centre of a political controversy.
Rathee has built a sizeable following through videos on politics, current affairs and social issues. His political content drew particular attention during the 2024 Lok Sabha election, when several of his videos received millions of views and generated considerable discussion online.
Rathee detained ahead of Jantar Mantar protest
Rathee was among the prominent faces associated with the CJP’s planned protest against Gyanesh Kumar. According to Hindustan Times, he was detained from his Gurugram home on Saturday morning as police action intensified ahead of the demonstration.
The protest was organised by the Cockroach Janta Party, with the party targeting the Chief Election Commissioner. Rathee’s decision to return to India and join the demonstration added another high-profile name to the protest.
The detention also comes amid a wider series of developments surrounding the CJP protest, with several of the party’s leaders and supporters being detained by police before they could reach the planned protest venue.
Also Read | Delhi High Court backs visa denial to US sex offender
Rathee’s presence at the demonstration was significant because of his large digital audience and his long-running involvement in political commentary. His videos have frequently focused on government policies, political claims and issues that generate public debate.
From travel videos to political commentary
Rathee did not begin his YouTube career as a political commentator. Born in Rohtak, Haryana, on October 8, 1994, he pursued higher education in mechanical engineering and renewable energy at Germany’s Karlsruhe Institute of Technology.
He began creating YouTube content in 2014, initially concentrating mainly on travel videos. His channel gradually moved towards fact-checking, current affairs and political subjects. His approach of using visuals, research and relatively simple explanations helped him build an audience beyond the usual followers of political commentary.
His political videos became particularly prominent around the 2024 Lok Sabha election. Several election-related videos received millions of views, turning Rathee into one of the more recognisable political voices on India’s digital platforms.
His work has also attracted criticism, with his political positions and interpretation of public issues regularly debated online. Supporters view his videos as an accessible way of understanding complicated political subjects, while critics have questioned his conclusions and approach.
Also Read | India bullet train delayed again: Why the Mumbai-Ahmedabad project is stuck
Despite the controversies surrounding his content, Rathee’s reach has continued to grow. In 2023, TIME magazine included him in its Next Generation Leaders list. He currently has more than 30 million YouTube subscribers, around 19.4 million Instagram followers and about 3.3 million followers on X, according to Hindustan Times.
His detention ahead of the CJP protest therefore comes at a time when online creators have become increasingly involved in India’s political conversations. Rathee’s return to India for the demonstration, followed by his detention in Gurugram, has added another prominent episode to his increasingly political public profile.