Popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was reportedly detained by Gurugram Police on Saturday morning before he could leave for a protest organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
According to reports, police reached his residence in Sector 56’s Central Park Society in Gurugram and detained him after he allegedly did not follow their instructions to avoid attending the demonstration. Gurugram Police confirmed the development to Hindustan Times.
Delhi witnessed heavy security arrangements ahead of the protest, titled “Jantar Mantar 2.0”. Authorities reportedly closed 45 metro stations from Friday night, while several mail and express train services heading towards Delhi were cancelled. Police personnel and central paramilitary forces were deployed across the capital.
Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita was imposed in several areas, and police denied permission for the gathering. Reports differed on the number of people detained, with PTI reporting around 150 arrests and The Indian Express citing a figure exceeding 1,000. Internet services were also suspended in parts of central Delhi.
The CJP protest called for Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar’s resignation, withdrawal of the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, and changes to the law governing the appointment of election commissioners.
The party condemned Rathee’s detention on social media. Its founder, Abhijit Deepke, said the movement would continue peacefully despite police action.
