Bengaluru: Ex-police commissioner seeks probe into Dhruv Rathee’s citizenship, visa status
Mangalore Today News Network
Bengaluru, Oct 9, 2026: Former Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao has sought the Union Home Ministry’s intervention to verify YouTuber Dhruv Rathee’s citizenship, immigration status and compliance with visa conditions following his participation in an anti-SIR protest in Bengaluru on October 8.
In a letter to the Union Home Secretary, Rao said Rathee, who is reportedly a German citizen, participated in the protest alongside actor-activist Prakash Raj and others, criticising the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Rao, who unsuccessfully contested the 2023 Karnataka Assembly elections on a BJP ticket from Chamarajpet, shared a copy of his letter on X.
“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 stated in the letter.
He urged the ministry to verify Rathee’s current citizenship and nationality, the passport used to enter India, the visa category or other permission under which he was staying in the country, the declared purpose of his visit and the conditions governing his stay.
Rao also sought an examination of whether Rathee’s participation in and address at the protest were permitted under applicable immigration and visa regulations, and whether prior approval or clearance was required.
He said that 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.
Clarifying the basis of his representation, Rao said it was not motivated by any disagreement with Rathee’s political views or his criticism of the government or the Election Commission. Instead, he said, the request was aimed at ensuring that foreign nationals complied with the legal framework governing their presence and activities in India.
He further urged the authorities to preserve and examine relevant immigration and entry-exit records to facilitate an independent verification of the matter.
Rathee participated in a protest titled ‘People’s Tribunal’, organised by civil society groups and the Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) at Freedom Park in Bengaluru on October 8 against the SIR. Actor Prakash Raj and CJP founder Abhijeet Dipke were also present at the protest.