Dhruv Rathee Claims ‘Kidnapping’ After Release Amid Delhi CEC Protest: A Look at His Education, YouTube Career | Today’s news
YouTuber Dhruv Rathee on Sunday claimed that people in plainclothes “kidnapped” him from his home and took him to several police stations ahead of a planned October 10 protest in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
In a video shared on X, Rathee claimed that nearly 20 people entered his residence around 7 am on Saturday while he was sleeping. He claimed that the group took him away before he could learn their identities or ask why they had come.
According to Rathee, he was taken to several police stations and denied access to a telephone and the opportunity to speak with his lawyer for almost 22-23 hours. He further claimed that he was injured when the men carried him out of his bedroom.
“I was not detained, I was kidnapped,” he recounted the incident, raising questions about the manner in which he was taken from his residence.
Education of Dhruv Rathee
According to Dhruv Rathee’s official website, Rathee completed his bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering followed by his master’s degree in renewable energy from the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) in Germany. He also graduated with a second bachelor’s degree in economics and political science.
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How did Dhruv Rathee start his YouTube journey?
Rathee started uploading videos to YouTube in 2014, initially focusing on travel vlogs. In an interview with Al Jazeera published on 29 May 2024, he recalled that his first video was a travel vlog recorded on an iPhone 5s that took him over two months to edit.
His interest in political commentary developed later. Rathee uploaded his first political commentary video on 16 September 2016. The video targeted the BJP’s IT cell and its alleged use of doctored photos, edited videos, fake quotes and paid social media posts to influence online political narratives.
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In his interview with Al Jazeera, Rathee recalled that he had initially supported Narendra Modi when he became prime minister in 2014. However, he said his views began to change after disagreements between the Center and the Delhi government over the anti-corruption helpline in 2015.
Describing the episode as a turning point, he said, “It was a very shocking moment for me. I realized that he is not interested in removing corruption from India.”
From a solo creator to a team of researchers
Initially, Rathee directed almost every aspect of his YouTube videos himself, including research, scripting, shooting and editing. According to his interview with Al Jazeera, he continued to work independently until 2020, when he began building a team to support his growing content.
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Over time, his videos expanded beyond political commentary to cover history, science, environmental issues, public policy, and international developments. He also runs a separate YouTube channel, Dhruv Rathee Vlogs, mainly dedicated to travel and personal experiences.
In an interview with Al Jazeera, Rathee said he preferred to make educational videos and travel vlogs, but felt compelled to focus on political issues.
“I’m more into doing my educational videos and travel vlogs, but now is not the time to stay untouched,” he told the publication.
Dhruv Rathee shows an Indian passport in the video
Responding to speculation about his citizenship, Rathee showed his passport in the video to reaffirm his Indian citizenship. He also rejected accusations that he did not plan to participate in the protest.
