YouTuber Dhruv Rathee has announced a protest in London against alleged “vote chori” (vote theft) in India. He has asked people to gather near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Parliament Square at noon on Saturday, October 17, 2026. That is 4:30 PM in India.
In a post on X late on Friday, Rathee said he had reached London and urged people in the city to join him. “It is time to make the issue resonate internationally,” he wrote.
What Rathee said
In the same post, Rathee said it was time the world saw what he called the reality of “vote chor”. He ended the post with “Jai Hind”. In Hindi, he described the move as time to ring the “international danka”, or bells.
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Detained a week ago in Gurugram
The London protest comes a week after Rathee was detained at his home in Sector 56, Gurugram, on Saturday, October 10. Police took the step ahead of the Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) protest at Jantar Mantar in Delhi, saying preventive measures were needed to stop demonstrators from gathering in the capital. He was released later.
Rathee has disputed that he agreed to any release conditions. “I did not sign any bond. I did not sign any undertaking. I did not sign any condition for release,” he said in a post on X on October 11. He also described the detention as a “kidnapping”.
What the protests are about
The CJP protest demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and changes to Form 6, the form used to register new voters. Delhi Police had denied permission for the Jantar Mantar protest, citing security concerns.
Several Opposition leaders, including Arvind Kejriwal, Mamata Banerjee and Pinarayi Vijayan, were also detained while trying to join the protest. The Election Commission has defended the SIR process.
Police deny arrest rumours
On Friday, Noida Police called online claims that it had arrested Rathee “false, misleading and baseless”, and warned that spreading such rumours could lead to legal action.
What happens next
The London protest is set for noon local time on October 17. There has been no response from the Election Commission to Rathee’s latest call so far.
FAQs
Where is Dhruv Rathee’s London protest?
Near Mahatma Gandhi’s statue in Parliament Square, London, at noon on Saturday, October 17, 2026 (4:30 PM IST).
What is “vote chori”?
It is the term used by Opposition parties and campaigners for alleged irregularities in India’s voter lists, including the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls. The Election Commission has defended the process.
Was Dhruv Rathee arrested?
He was detained at his Gurugram home on October 10 ahead of the CJP protest in Delhi and released later. Noida Police has called claims of a fresh arrest false.
Did Dhruv Rathee sign a bond for his release?
Rathee has said he did not sign any bond, undertaking or condition for his release.
