E20 protest: Tehseen Poonawalla under house arrest, offers police sugarcane juice

Activist Tehseen Poonawalla on Saturday (August 22) claimed that Delhi Police had put him under house arrest as he tried to leave his residence to protest against “sugar scam” and the Union government’s E20 fuel policy.

Taking to his X (Formerly Twitter) account, Poonawalla said, “Sugar scam is the most bitter scam in India”. He also shared a video in which he is seen offering sugarcane juice to Delhi police personnel at his house. He has alleged that the Centre’s policies have led to a rise in sugar prices.

Also read: E20 protest: Hardeep Puri holds talks with Team Bharat, Poonawalla detained next day

Offering sugarcane juice to police, Poonawalla is heard saying in the video, “Sugarcane juice is a luxury now. Sugarcane has become more expensive than gold.”

Poonawalla hits out at ‘sugar daddy’

Without naming anyone, he hit out at “sugar daddy” for making his sons rich while people’s vehicles get harmed due to ethanol-blended petrol. He said his Team Bharat, a citizen advocacy group, is not being allowed to protest, and they were “detained”.

“The entire Sugar Scam is: Sugar Daddy involved in a policy that makes his sons profit & become rich while our vehicles are harmed, food inflation hits our home budget & India misses out on export! Instead of Allowing TEAM BHARAT to protest, Delhi Police has house arrested us (sic),” he wrote.

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In another post, he said, “Team Bharat is protesting against the SUGAR SCAM where SUGAR DADDY makes policies that helps his kids; while leaving a bitter taste in our life & budget. Thank you @DelhiPolice For detaining us !!! House arresting us not giving us permission to protest Sugar Price Rice & Ethanol!!! (sic).”

‘Citizens vehicles destroyed due to E20’

Further, he wrote, “Offering SugarCane juice to @DelhiPolice! The Sugar Scam is the most bitter Scam in INDIA ! Making sons of netas become millionaires while the common citizen pays more for Sugar & due to E20 their vehicles are destroyed!! (sic).”

On Saturday morning, Poonawalla posted a picture of Delhi Police personnel standing outside his house and captioned it, “Have been detained, maybe I will be arrested!!! SUGAR SCAM ETHANOL SCAM (sic)”.

This is the second time this month that Poonawalla has been put under house arrest. The Delhi Police had done the same on August 1 ahead of his proposed solo march and hunger strike against the Centre’s E20 fuel policy.

He has been campaigning against the BJP-led Union government’s E20 fuel policy and has criticised Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. He has demanded the Centre continue to sell 100 per cent petrol, E5 and E10 fuels at fuel stations and give consumers the choice to choose the best for their vehicles.

The Union government’s rollout of E20 petrol, a blend containing 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol, has drawn criticism from some opposition leaders and consumer groups, with several owners of older vehicles claiming it reduces fuel efficiency and increases maintenance costs.