Tehseen Poonawalla Alleges House Arrest Over E20 Fuel Protest

Political activist and commentator Tehseen Poonawalla has alleged that he was placed under house arrest by Delhi authorities on Saturday morning. Poonawalla stated that he was prevented from leaving his residence to lead a planned march and hunger strike against the government’s E20 fuel policy. He described the security measures as extreme, claiming that journalists outside his flat informed him of internet jammers being installed in the vicinity to prevent communication and coverage.

The planned protest targets the Union Government's push for E20 petrol, which contains a 20% ethanol blend. Poonawalla and his supporters, operating under the banner 'Team Bharat', argue the policy negatively impacts vehicle performance and consumer costs. While Petroleum Minister Hardeep Singh Puri reportedly held talks with the group earlier, Poonawalla alleges that the sudden security crackdown indicates that the administration, specifically Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari, is seeking to suppress dissent regarding the transition.

Poonawalla has likened his treatment to that of a terrorist, highlighting a sharp escalation in the friction between civic activists and the central government over green energy transitions. The activist had intended to march to the residence of Nitin Gadkari to demand a rollback or modification of the ethanol-blending mandates. This development has sparked a debate on the right to protest against technical economic policies and the use of preventive detention against high-profile critics in the national capital.