Tehseen Poonawalla alleges house arrest by Delhi Police ahead of E20 fuel policy protest march

New Delhi: Activist Tehseen Poonawalla on Saturday alleged that he was placed under house arrest, without any written order, in Greater Kailash by the Delhi Police ahead of his proposed solo march and hunger strike against the BJP-led Centre's E20 fuel policy.

Activist Tehseen Poonawalla alleged that he was placed under house arrest, without any written order on Saturday.

The alleged incident took place at his home in Greater Kailash and was undertaken by the Delhi Police ahead of his proposed solo march and hunger strike against the government’s E20 fuel policy.


The activist had announced his solo march from APJ Abdul Kalam Marg to Gandhi Smriti on Tees January Marg on July 27. He also stated that he would observe a day-long hunger strike against the policy on Friday.

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Poonawalla, sharing videos on his X account, stated that several Delhi Police personnel, including women officers, arrived at his house around 9:30am to prevent him from stepping out.

He said that neither the police produced any order nor documents to detain him. The activist further alleged the officers telling him that they were preventing him from leaving his house because thousands of people were expected to join his march.

The activist is heard in one of his videos asking a police officer the reason with which he could be detained without any written order.

"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)," he told the officer.

In response, the police officer said that the march could have led to a law and order situation and asked the activist to cooperate.

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Poonawalla, in a X post, alleged that journalists present outside his flat had informed him they were unable to access the internet because jammers were installed near the house.

The police allegedly denied permission for his proposed Team Bharat "Gaadi March" to Parliament on July 31 after the activist announced the solo march on Friday

In a post on X, he claimed that Delhi Police had threatened that citizens joining the protest could be arrested and their vehicles seized. He also claimed that he was prevented from speaking to the media and that his Instagram was restored only after a few hours after it had been suspended

"Walking alone and sitting alone in silence is not a violation of any law. I will sit at the spot where Bapu was assassinated in maun vrat, observing a day-long hunger fast," Poonawalla had said while announcing the protest.

The activist has been protesting against the E20 policy and criticised the Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari over the issue

Poonawalla has been campaigning against the E20 fuel policy and has criticised Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari over the issue.

He demanded that consumers be given the choice to purchase conventional petrol along the concomitant ethanol fuel-blends instead of being mandated to use the E20 fuel.]

Fuel stations continuing to sell 100 per cent petrol, E5 and E10 fuels so that motorists can choose the fuel best suited to their vehicles, has been one of the principal demands of the campaign group, Team Bharat.

The Centre has drawn criticism from some opposition leaders and consumer group's decision to roll out E20, a blend containing 20 per cent ethanol and 80 per cent petrol. Several owners of older vehicles claim it reduces fuel efficiency and increases maintenance costs.