Who is Dhruv Rathee? Germany-based Indian YouTuber detained in Gurugram on CJP protest day

From travel videos to political commentary, Dhruv Rathee has built a massive digital following, with more than 30 million YouTube subscribers.

Dhruv Rathee, the Germany-based Indian influencer, is back in India to join the Cockroach Janta Party-led protest against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and was detained by Delhi Police from his Gurugram residence on Saturday morning.

Rathee’s political videos drew widespread attention during the 2024 Lok Sabha election, with several election-related videos receiving millions of views. (PTI)

He became a familiar face in India, particularly after his widely discussed political videos around the 2024 elections. The Haryana-born YouTuber has since built a massive following with his content.

Here are five things to know about Dhruv Rathee.

1. From Haryana to Germany

Deep Dive

Why was Dhruv Rathee detained in Gurugram?

What was the CJP protest against?

Why did a former IPS officer ask the Home Ministry to verify Dhruv Rathee’s visa status?

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Dhruv Rathee was born on October 8, 1994, in Rohtak, Haryana. He pursued higher education in mechanical engineering and renewable energy at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology, Germany. Rathee turned to content creation after his education.

2. Started his YouTube journey in 2014

Rathee started creating content on YouTube in 2014, initially focusing mainly on travel videos. Over time, he began making videos on fact-checking, current affairs and politics. His simple way of explaining different issues helped his videos attract a wider audience. He gradually became one of the early Indian influencers to use YouTube as a platform for political and social commentary.

3. Known for explaining complex issues

Rathee’s videos cover topics such as politics, history and social issues. He uses research, visuals and simple explanations to make complex subjects easier for people to understand. His content focuses on issues that often become part of public debate and discussion.

4. A prominent voice in political discussions

Rathee has attracted wide attention for his videos on government policies and political claims. His views have received both support and criticism, making him a widely discussed figure in India’s digital media space. His growing popularity also reflects the rising role of online creators in political discussions.

His political videos received significant attention during the 2024 Lok Sabha election, with several election-related videos gaining millions of views and generating discussion online.

5. Recognition beyond YouTube

In 2023, TIME magazine included Rathee in its Next Generation Leaders list, recognising his work.

Rathee has built a large following across major social media platforms. He has more than 30 million subscribers on YouTube, around 19.4 million followers on Instagram and about 3.3 million followers on X. His reach across these platforms has made him one of the prominent Indian digital creators in discussions around politics, current affairs and social issues.