Political analyst and consultant Tehseen Poonawalla on Saturday claimed that he was placed under house arrest by the Delhi Police ahead of his proposed protest march and hunger strike against the Centre’s E20 petrol policy. According to Poonawalla, police personnel were deployed outside his residence before he could leave for Gandhi Smriti in Delhi, where he had planned to hold a silent demonstration against the ethanol-blended fuel programme.
Poonawalla shared multiple videos and posts on social media platform X, alleging that he had been confined to his home without any written detention order. He questioned the legality of the action and claimed that no official paperwork had been provided despite his repeated requests to the police personnel present outside his residence.
Poonawalla Alleges Detention Without Written Orders
In one of the videos posted online, Poonawalla is seen asking a police officer under what legal authority he was being prevented from leaving his residence. In another post, he alleged that an entire contingent of Delhi Police, including women officers, had been deployed outside his home before his scheduled protest.
“Guys, Delhi Police has detained me!!! They have put me under house arrest with NO PAPERS!!”
In another social media post, he criticised Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari while linking the police action to his campaign against ethanol-blended fuel.
“An entire battalion of Delhi Police, including women officers, has put me under house arrest! Nitin Gadkari is scared of ethanol.”
Police Officer Cites Law and Order Concerns
Poonawalla also shared another video in which a police officer allegedly informed him that the force had received “orders from top” to keep him at his residence. During the conversation, the officer can also be heard saying that authorities feared a possible law-and-order situation if large numbers of supporters gathered during the proposed protest.
According to the officer heard in the video, the restrictions were imposed because there were concerns that a crowd assembling for the demonstration could create public order issues. No official statement from the Delhi Police regarding Poonawalla’s allegations was included in the material provided.
Why Is the E20 Petrol Policy Facing Opposition?
The controversy centres on the government’s rollout of E20 petrol, a fuel blend containing 20% ethanol and 80% petrol. The policy has drawn criticism from several opposition parties, consumer groups and transport associations, with critics arguing that motorists should continue to have the option of purchasing 100% petrol as well as E5 and E10 fuel variants.
Poonawalla and his organisation, Team Bharat, have been campaigning against the policy and have demanded greater consumer choice in fuel availability. His planned hunger strike at Gandhi Smriti was announced a day before he claimed to have been stopped from leaving his residence.
Nitin Gadkari Defends the Ethanol-Blended Fuel Programme
The controversy comes shortly after Union Minister Nitin Gadkari addressed concerns over E20 fuel in Parliament. In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Gadkari stated that petrol blended with 20% ethanol may reduce fuel economy by around 2% to 6%, depending on the age and type of the vehicle.
At the same time, the minister said the higher ethanol blend provides better acceleration and improved ride quality while reducing carbon emissions by nearly 30% compared with E10 fuel. The government has maintained that ethanol blending is part of its broader strategy to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and lower emissions.
Political Reactions and Planned Protests
The debate over E20 petrol has expanded beyond Poonawalla’s campaign. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has announced a campaign against the policy and said it would organise a “National Town Hall Against E20” at the Constitution Club of India in Delhi on August 1 to discuss public concerns and build support for demanding changes to the policy.
Delhi-based transport organisations have also announced plans to march towards Parliament on August 4, arguing that reports of vehicle-related issues linked to ethanol-blended fuel deserve greater attention. Meanwhile, Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai has reportedly written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi seeking the removal of Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Hardeep Singh Puri over the issue.
Sources: Hindustan Times, ANI, PTI.
