- Activist Tehseen Poonawalla claimed Delhi Police placed him under house arrest.
- This allegedly prevented his planned protest against the E20 petrol policy.
- Poonawalla and critics cite E20 fuel issues for older vehicles.
- He demands consumers retain choice of multiple fuel options.
Activist Tehseen Poonawalla on Saturday claimed that he was placed under house arrest by the Delhi Police ahead of his planned protest march and hunger strike against the Centre’s E20 petrol policy. Sharing a series of videos and posts on X, Poonawalla alleged that police personnel had been stationed outside his residence to prevent him from participating in the demonstration.
The Delhi Police had not immediately responded publicly to Poonawalla’s claims at the time of writing.
Poonawalla Alleges House Arrest Before Planned Protest
In a post on X, Poonawalla alleged that a large police contingent had been deployed outside his home.
“An entire battalion of @DelhiPolice cops including women officers have put me under house arrest! Nitin Gadkari ji sir is scared of #Ethanol. #EthanolScam BETA BADHAO YOJNA SUGAR DADDY,” he wrote. He later shared another post claiming that no formal order had been provided. “I have been put under house arrest by @DelhiPolice! No documents no papers!” he said.
I am being arrested at GK1 .
No crime agaisnt me no papers, no documents ..nothing! #EthanolScam
@DelhiPolice pic.twitter.com/Gw59sIFNWu— Tehseen Poonawalla Official 🇮🇳 (@tehseenp) August 1, 2026
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Throughout Saturday, Poonawalla continued posting updates, maintaining that he had been prevented from leaving his residence to carry out the protest.
Planned Hunger Strike Followed Earlier Protest Denial
Earlier in the day, Poonawalla said Delhi Police had informed him that he would not be allowed to observe a silent protest or undertake a hunger strike.
According to him, the demonstration was scheduled to begin at 10 am with a walk from the rear exit of Claridges Hotel near the paan stall to Tees January Marg, ending at Gandhi Smriti. He had described the protest as being centred on the issues of free speech and fuel choice.
The planned march came after authorities denied permission for his proposed “Gaadi March” to Parliament on July 31. Following that decision, Poonawalla announced that he would instead carry out a solo walk to Gandhi Smriti and begin an indefinite hunger strike.
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Campaign Targets E20 Petrol Policy
Poonawalla has been campaigning against the government’s E20 petrol policy and has repeatedly criticised Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari over the issue.
The E20 fuel blend consists of 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol. While the government has promoted the policy as part of its ethanol-blending programme, critics have raised concerns over its impact on older vehicles.
According to Poonawalla and his organisation, Team Bharat, owners of vehicles manufactured before 2023 have reported lower fuel efficiency and higher maintenance costs after using E20 fuel.
The group has demanded that consumers continue to have access to multiple fuel options, including 100 per cent petrol, E5 and E10 blends, allowing motorists to choose the fuel best suited to their vehicles.
Poonawalla had organised a protest against E20 fuel on July 5 and had later announced a “Gaadi March” near Parliament Street on July 31, which was not permitted by authorities. Saturday’s planned march and hunger strike were intended as the next phase of that campaign.
