Delhi Police Detain Dhruv Rathee Before CJP Protest

Authorities detained YouTuber Dhruv Rathee at his residence in Gurugram's Sector 56 on October 10, 2026, ahead of a protest organized by the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) at Jantar Mantar in New Delhi. Police sources cited by NDTV said around 50 Delhi Police personnel arrived at his home that morning as security restrictions intensified across the capital.

Rathee had traveled to India from Germany earlier in the week and participated in a CJP demonstration in Bengaluru on October 8. According to NDTV, he announced his intention to attend the Delhi protest in a video posted on X on Friday evening.

The demonstration seeks the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. CJP has alleged that approximately 13 crore voters have been removed from electoral rolls since 2024, according to coverage by Hindustan Times. The Election Commission has rejected allegations of irregularities, maintaining that major decisions concerning the revision were taken unanimously by the full commission.

CJP responded to Rathee's detention by demanding his immediate release. The organization had mobilized supporters for the Delhi gathering despite police refusing permission for the demonstration, citing public safety, traffic management and procedural requirements.

Delhi Police said the application for permission was submitted on October 7, only days before the planned event. Joint Commissioner of Police Nupur Prasad said applications ordinarily must be filed at least 10 days in advance. Police also cited concerns about compliance with directions issued during CJP's previous protests in June and July, according to The Times of India.

CJP co-convener Saurav Das challenged the authorities' explanation, arguing that officials had known about the planned demonstration since October 2. He also questioned the requirement for government approval to protest against the government, describing the approach as a colonial mindset, according to The Times of India.

Security measures extended across central Delhi and its approach roads. Hindustan Times reported that Delhi Police initially planned restrictions affecting 57 metro stations before revising the list to 45. Mobile internet services within a 4-kilometer radius of the Janpath-Kartavya Path crossing were suspended from 10 p.m. on October 9 until 10 p.m. on October 10, according to The Times of India.

Rail services were also disrupted. Hindustan Times reported that mail and express trains scheduled to arrive at New Delhi and Hazrat Nizamuddin stations between 4 a.m. and 2 p.m. on October 10 were canceled because of anticipated traffic congestion. The Connaught Place market was also scheduled to close for the day, according to Rediff, with the New Delhi Traders Association citing public safety concerns and the potential for property damage.

Delhi Police expected approximately 7,000 protesters to arrive in the capital, according to an official cited by ETV Bharat. Authorities divided New Delhi into 20 zones and established detention centers in stadiums. ETV Bharat reported that police had detained approximately 500 people by the morning, including around 50 individuals with criminal backgrounds. Hindustan Times separately reported that more than 1,000 people had been detained overnight.

The extensive deployment prompted criticism from opposition politicians. Aam Aadmi Party legislator Gopal Rai accused the central government of imposing a black emergency, while Delhi unit president Saurabh Bharadwaj argued that the restrictions created fear despite protesters seeking to raise their concerns peacefully, according to ETV Bharat.

Meanwhile, CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke traveled from Mumbai to Delhi for the demonstration. According to The Times of India, Dipke said he would continue opposing the alleged deletion of voters and demanding Kumar's resignation despite the possibility of imprisonment.