CJP Protests: Popular YouTuber Dhruv Rathee may face legal action for participation in an anti-SIR protest in Bengaluru on October 8. Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao wrote a letter to the Union Home Secretary, seeking the Centre's intervention to verify Rathee's citizenship, immigration status and compliance with visa conditions. Rathee is understood to hold German citizenship.

The YouTuber participated in the protest along with actor-activist Prakash Raj and others, and criticised the Election Commission of India over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.

Rao, who unsuccessfully contested the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections on a BJP ticket from Chamararajpet, shared his letter on his X handle.

"The limited and specific issue requiring examination is whether a foreign national, while present in India on the basis of a particular visa, immigration permission or other status, is legally entitled to participate in, address or otherwise associate himself with an organised political protest concerning the functioning of India's constitutional and statutory institutions," Rao said in the letter.

He urged the ministry to verify Rathee's present citizenship and nationality, the passport used to enter India, the category of visa or other permission under which he was staying in the country, the declared purpose of his visit and the conditions attached to his authorised stay.

Has Rathee Violated Tje Foreigners Act, 1946?

He also sought an examination on whether Rathee's participation in and address at the protest were permissible under the applicable immigration and visa regulations, and whether prior permission or clearance was required. If any violation of the Foreigners Act, 1946, visa conditions, immigration regulations, OCI rules or other applicable laws was established, appropriate action should be taken in accordance with the law, he said.

Earlier, Rathee, in his address, sought the resignation of the CEC, alleging that there was "zero transparency and zero accountability from the EC," over the SIR exercise. The YouTuber alleged that 'Vote Chori' (vote theft) concerned every citizen irrespective of their political affiliation.

"Whether you vote for the BJP, whether you vote for the Congress, or whether you support any other party, this is an issue that concerns every citizen of the country," he said.
(With PTI Inputs)