Noida Police on Friday dismissed viral social media claims that Germany-based YouTuber Dhruv Rathee had been arrested by the force, describing the allegations as “completely false, misleading and baseless”. The clarification came after several users on X circulated posts claiming that Rathee had been taken into custody, with some sharing a video to support the allegations.
The Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Commissionerate issued a fact-check clarification, explicitly stating that no arrest had been made by Noida Police. The statement sought to counter the rumours circulating online since Friday morning and urged social media users to verify information before sharing it.
“Dhruv Rathee has not been arrested by Noida Police,” the police said in its clarification.
The development comes just days after Rathee was detained by police in Gurugram ahead of a planned protest at Delhi's Jantar Mantar. The timing of the earlier detention appears to have added to online speculation, although Noida Police has categorically denied the latest claim concerning its own actions.
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Noida Police Warns Of Strict Action Against Rumour-Mongering
Alongside denying the claim, Noida Police appealed to the public not to circulate unverified messages or misleading content. It reminded social media users to establish the authenticity of information before forwarding posts, particularly when they concern alleged police action against an individual.
In a statement posted on X, the Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Commissionerate warned that people found spreading false information or rumours could face strict legal action under the applicable provisions.
“The general public is appealed not to disseminate such misleading and unverified messages, and to always verify the authenticity of any information before sharing it. Strict legal action will be taken as per prevailing legal provisions against individuals disseminating misleading, false, or rumour-mongering content,” the police statement read.
The clarification followed the circulation of posts alleging that Rathee had been arrested by Noida Police. Some social media users also shared a video in support of the claim, prompting the force to issue a public denial.
The police did not confirm the authenticity of the video in the clarification. Its statement focused on refuting the claim that Rathee had been arrested by Noida Police and warning against the spread of unverified information.
What Happened When Dhruv Rathee Was Detained In Gurugram?
The rumours surfaced against the backdrop of Rathee's detention in Gurugram on October 10, when police took him from his residence in Sector 56 ahead of a planned demonstration at Jantar Mantar in Delhi.
The protest, organised by the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP), was aimed at demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities linked to the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Police said prohibitory orders were in force at the proposed protest site.
According to officials, Rathee was detained after he did not heed police requests not to travel to Delhi to participate in the demonstration, for which permission had not been granted. He was taken to a Gurugram Crime Branch office and kept there while authorities monitored the situation.
Rathee was released late on October 10 and handed over to his family in the early hours of October 11, after spending around 18 hours in detention, according to reports.
“Yes, he has been set free. His family members arrived to receive him at a crime branch office where he was kept detained,” a senior police officer was quoted as saying.
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Another police statement explained the circumstances surrounding his release, saying he was freed after discussions with Delhi Police and assurances that he would not join a group or mob that could create law-and-order problems at a site where prohibitory orders were in force.
However, Rathee disputed the description of the incident as a detention. Following his release, he took to social media to describe what had happened to him.
“I was not arrested or detained; I was KIDNAPPED,” Rathee wrote in a post accompanying a video in which he recounted his experience.
His account and the police's explanation of the incident have circulated widely online, keeping the YouTuber in the news in the days following his release.