NEW DELHI: Venture capitalist, political analyst and consultant Tehseen Poonawala has alleged that the Delhi Police has enforced a house arrest on him in relation to his protest against E20 fuel.Poonawala had previously announced that on the 1st of August he would undertake a solo walk to Gandhi Smriti, followed by maun vrat and a hunger strike to protest against the mandatory E20 ethanol policy.Saturday morning, Poonawalla posted a series of videos and messages on X stating that a large contingent of Delhi Police personnel, including women officers, had arrived at his home and restricted his movement. “I am being arrested at GK1. No crime against me, no papers, no documents… nothing!” he wrote, sharing a photograph of a police vehicle parked outside his building.In subsequent posts, he declared, “I AM UNDER HOUSE ARREST,” and alleged, “An entire battalion of Delhi Police cops including women officers have put me under house arrest!! Nitin Gadkari ji sir is scared of Ethanol.” In another post he wrote, “The Delhi Police force that has put me under house arrest so I cannot speak against Ethanol.”“Almost as if I am a terrorist!! All I wanted was a maun vrat and a peaceful democratic one day hunger strike. My Instagram account was suspended! I was abused! Now house arrested!” he wrote in one post.Videos shared by Poonawalla show police officers stationed at the doorway of his residence. In one clip, he is seen speaking to an officer inside the house, repeatedly asking for any written order or document. He is heard saying he is being detained fifteen days before Independence Day. The officer is heard responding that the proposed protest could lead to a law-and-order situation and seeking cooperation.In later videos recorded, Poonawalla stated that police informed him that as he had announced his protest on social media in advance, thousands of people might come out to join him. He also claimed that one officer told him he was “a great human being” but that orders had come “from the top” to place him under house arrest.Poonawalla alleged that internet connectivity in the area had been disrupted, with media personnel complaining of jammed signals, though he managed to continue posting updates. He used hashtags such as EthanolScam, BETA BADHAO YOJNA and SUGAR DADDY, reflecting his long-standing criticism that the ethanol policy benefits certain sugar interests and distilleries.
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Delhi Police has not responded to Tehseen Poonawala’s claims yet.Poonawalla demanded discussions on ethanol policy, asking for E10 for E10-compliant vehicles, reduced rates of E0 petrol, and public disclosure of all E20 Fuel policy documents. He also called for keeping Union minister Nitin Gadkari out of the ethanol portfolio.
