Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla has claimed that he was placed under house arrest by the Delhi Police ahead of his planned protest and hunger strike against the Centre’s E20 petrol policy.
Poonawalla, who had announced a silent march to Gandhi Smriti in New Delhi, alleged that police personnel were deployed outside his residence, preventing him from leaving.
Sharing videos and posts on social media, Poonawalla questioned the legality of the alleged detention, claiming that no official order or written notice was provided. In one of the videos, he is seen asking police officers under what authority he was being confined to his home. He also alleged that a police officer informed him the action was taken following “orders from the top.”
In another post, Poonawalla criticised Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari, claiming that authorities were trying to stop his protest against ethanol-blended fuel. He wrote that a large police contingent, including women officers, had been deployed outside his residence and accused the government of attempting to suppress peaceful dissent. At the time of publication, Delhi Police had not issued an official response to his allegations.
Why is Poonawalla protesting against E20 petrol?
Poonawalla has been campaigning against the nationwide rollout of E20 petrol, which contains 20% ethanol and 80% petrol. He argues that motorists should have the option to choose between pure petrol, E5, E10 and E20 fuel blends instead of relying only on higher ethanol blends. His campaign, led under the banner of Team Bharat, seeks to retain multiple fuel options for consumers.
The E20 fuel policy has also drawn criticism from some opposition parties and transport associations, which have raised concerns about its impact on vehicle performance and maintenance costs. Several transport unions in Delhi have announced plans to protest the policy in the coming days.
Government defends ethanol blending programme
The Centre has maintained that ethanol blending is an important step toward reducing crude oil imports and lowering carbon emissions. Replying in Parliament recently, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari said E20 fuel could reduce fuel efficiency by around 2% to 6%, depending on the vehicle’s model and age. However, he added that the fuel offers improved acceleration, smoother driving performance and nearly 30% lower carbon emissions compared with E10 petrol.
Meanwhile, political opposition to the policy continues to grow. The Aam Aadmi Party has announced a nationwide campaign against E20 fuel, while Uttar Pradesh Congress chief Ajay Rai has reportedly urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider the policy and take action against the concerned Union ministers.
Authorities have not confirmed whether Poonawalla was officially detained or placed under preventive restrictions. The matter is likely to remain under scrutiny as protests against the E20 policy gather momentum.