YouTuber Dhruv Rathee was released from detention on Sunday by the Delhi police. Sharing a video on social media, Rathee alleged that he was not detained or arrested but kidnapped by the Delhi police.
The social media influencer added that he is an Indian national and some false narrative has been spread on social media about his citizenship.
What did Rathee say in the video?
In a video shared on X on Sunday, Dhruv Rathee narrated how Delhi Police officers arrived at his home on Saturday and took him into custody. He opened the video by thanking his supporters and emphasising that, as an Indian citizen, he holds a constitutional right to peaceful protest.
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Rathee stated that around 7:00 AM on Saturday, several plainclothes officers arrived at his house and forced their way inside after his mother opened the door. The men entered his bedroom, dragged him out, and refused to present identification while arguing aggressively with his parents.
He further alleged that the officers confiscated his phone and prevented him from contacting anyone. While Rathee acknowledged he might have expected detention had he joined the street demonstration, he characterised his preemptive arrest directly from his home as an unlawful abduction.
'Is This A Democratic Nation'
Rathee stated that he remains under strict surveillance, with his activities closely monitored. Addressing his viewers, he questioned whether such actions align with a democratic nation.
He went on to criticise PM Narendra Modi for overseeing an authoritarian regime in India, arguing that escalating state pressure will ultimately foster resistance and lead to its downfall. Drawing historical parallels, he referenced dictators like Adolf Hitler and Benito Mussolini, whose regimes eventually collapsed.