30 cops in plainclothes and a warning: How drama unfolded at Dhruv Rathee’s home

YouTuber Dhruv Rathee during the 'people's tribunal protest (PTI Photo)

GURGAON: YouTuber Dhruv Rathee, who came to India to join Cockroach Janta Party's (CJP) protest demanding the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, was detained from his home in Sector 56 on Saturday morning after he refused to "heed police warnings" against attending the demonstration for which there was no permission. Police said prohibitory orders were in force in Delhi, where protesters planned to assemble at Jantar Mantar over alleged electoral roll irregularities. Around 30 policemen in plainclothes reached Rathee's home in Kendriya Vihar around 7.30am and took him into custody. He was subsequently taken to the crime branch office in Sector 39, where he remained in detention till late on Saturday evening. A police officer said Rathee had been warned against joining the demonstration because permission had not been granted for it and restrictions were in force under Section 163 of the BNSS. "Police initially tried to explain to Dhruv Rathee that he should not join the CJP protest as it did not have permission. He did not agree and continued posting on social media that he would attend the demonstration. We detained him in the morning as he was heading to join an unauthorised protest," the officer said. The action, police said, was preventive and intended at averting any untoward incident. Such detention can last up to 24 hours, an officer said. A police team remained near Kendriya Vihar even after Rathee was taken away. Other than Rathee, several Congress and Aam Aadmi Party functionaries, along with members of other political outfits, were allegedly placed under house arrest to prevent them from travelling to Jantar Mantar.