Tehseen Poonawalla alleges house arrest ahead of E20 protest; Kejriwal attacks Centre

Delhi Police allegedly placed activist Tehseen Poonawalla under house arrest on Saturday (August 1), hours before he was scheduled to begin a protest march and hunger strike against the Centre's E20 petrol policy.

Poonawalla, who has been campaigning against Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari over ethanol-blended fuel, shared videos showing police personnel outside his residence.

"An entire battalion of Delhi Police, including women officers, has put me under house arrest! Nitin Gadkari is scared of ethanol," Poonawalla stated in a post on X.

Questions ‘detention’

In another video, he questioned officers about the grounds for his detention, saying no written order had been shown.

"No papers, nothing. I am under house arrest... Azaadi ke 15 din pehle aap mujhe detain kar rahe (you are detaining me 15 days before Independence Day)," Poonawalla is heard telling the police officer, reported India Today.

The officer replied that the proposed march could create a law and order problem and requested his cooperation.

Protest plan halted

Poonawalla had announced on Friday (July 31) that he would walk alone to Gandhi Smriti, hold a silent protest and begin a hunger strike after permission was denied for his planned 'Gaadi March' to Parliament on July 31.

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

His campaign has gained momentum after the Cockroach Janta Party's month-long agitation over alleged examination paper leaks, which ended with then Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan's resignation. Poonawalla is now trying to rally public opinion against the government's E20 fuel policy.

E20 contains 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol. Opposition parties, consumer groups and owners of vehicles manufactured before 2023 have criticised the fuel, claiming it reduces mileage and raises maintenance costs.

Kejriwal slams Centre

Meanwhile, AAP convener and former Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the Centre of lodging FIRs instead of answering questions on the E20 petrol at a protest demonstration in Delhi.

Also Read: E20 fuel cuts emissions but trims mileage by 2-6 pc, Gadkari tells Lok Sabha

“The E20 petrol imposed by the Modi government has become a trouble for millions of people. You too can make your video and tag me on social media. I will post your video from my account,” he said.

“Instead of answering questions, the government is getting FIRs filed against those raising questions to hide the truth about E20,” added Kejriwal.

Debate over E20 fuel

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari has acknowledged that E20 can lower fuel efficiency by 2 to 6 per cent. He has also said extensive testing found no link between the fuel and engine failures. Gadkari reportedly stated in the Lok Sabha that E20 delivers better acceleration and produces 30 per cent lower carbon emissions than E10 fuel.

Poonawalla and his organisation, Team Bharat, want motorists to have the option of buying regular petrol, E5 and E10 alongside E20. The demand was raised during a meeting with Union Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri, though no assurance was given.

Poonawalla's earlier vehicle rally, backed by the Delhi Taxi and Transport Owners and Tour Operators Association, was cancelled after permission was refused.

On Friday, he renamed his fresh campaign 'March for Awaaz Ki Azaadi'. Before he could begin the protest, police personnel arrived outside his residence, leaving the future of the agitation uncertain.