Tehseen Poonawalla, the political analyst who has been leading Team Bharat’s protests against ethanol-blended petrol, has now alleged that he has been put under house arrest by the Delhi police. He has shared multiple posts on X (previously Twitter) showing police officers entering his house and talking to him about the detention. Allegations of house arrest surface on the day when he was supposed to conduct a solo walk to Tees January Marg, and hold a silent protest and hunger strike.
Poonawalla has been sharing a slew of updates on his X handle today (August 1, 2026). Early this morning, he shared a tweet saying that he has been summoned by the Delhi police. ‘Been ‘asked to appear’ before the Delhi police. No warrant, no papers, no idea what’s my crime! But being ‘summoned’!- said the post. It further reaffirmed that his silent protest (Maun Vrat) and hunger fast will start today at Tees January Marg.
According to an earlier post he was told that he cannot keep a maun vrat and sit on a hunger fast. Originally, the protest was set to begin at 10am today. According to the plan, he would walk from the Exit Gate (back gate) of Claridges, near the Paan walla, to Tees January Marg, and to the spot where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated. Freedom of speech and freedom of fuel are the demands of this protest.
Now, let’s talk about the alleged house arrest. Just an hour ago, Poonawalla shared the image of a cop walking out of a police car, with ‘ I am being arrested at GK1. No crime agaisnt me no papers, no documents ..nothing!’ written in the caption. A series of updates followed, alleging that the Delhi police has put him under house arrest with no papers.
The handle also shared a video of him talking with a police official about the matter. The conversation sounds peaceful. Poonawalla is seen explaining his side and the cop is seen asking him to refrain from holding the hunger fast. A group of cops, including female officers can be seen in the videos shared on the handle.
These videos and tweets have upset netizens. People are actively engaging with these, sharing and commenting- mostly condemning the act of the government denying the right to hold a peaceful, solo protest.
Just yesterday, Poonawalla had shared a video explaining how he was being silenced by the authorities. He said that his Instagram account was suspended and the Delhi police officers stopped him from speaking to the media. He had to abandon the ‘Gaadi March, Gandhi March’ after the police officials denied permission for the same. They also made it clear that if Team Bharat took to the streets without permission, arrests and strict legal actions will be taken against the participants. This made Poonawalla to call off the march.
Instead, he announced that he would do it alone. Without any other participant. He said on camera that he would walk from Abdul Kalam Marg to Gandhi Smrithi. This he said, would not violate any law including Section 144 (unlawful assembly). He clarified that no member of Team Bharat would accompany him.
At Gandhi Smriti, he would do Maun Vrat (silent protest) and would not talk to anyone. He would also do a hunger strike for the whole day. Even in this video, he reiterated that ethanol-blended petrol is a scam and that it is harming vehicles across the country. He also said that he would only choose the Gandhian way of protest and is not afraid of Nitin Gadkari (who has been a strong advocate of the Ethanol blending program).
Choosing Tees January Marg and the place where Mahatma Gandhi was assassinated for this protest can be seen as symbolic. Observing Maun Vrat and hunger fast there will get a lot of attention.