Activist Tehseen Poonawalla stated that Delhi Police placed him under house arrest before a planned protest march and hunger strike against the government’s E20 petrol policy. He has campaigned against Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari and ethanol-blended fuel, sharing videos of officers at his home on Saturday. Poonawalla posted that a large group of Delhi Police personnel, including women officers, had confined him, adding that Gadkari feared ethanol. In one video, he questioned an officer about detention without documents. The officer replied that the protest could lead to law and order issues and requested cooperation. Poonawalla had announced a solo walk to Gandhi Smriti for a silent protest and hunger strike after permission for a vehicle march to Parliament was denied. He seeks to highlight public concerns over E20 fuel, similar to recent protests on exam leaks. The E20 blend of 80 percent petrol and 20 percent ethanol has drawn criticism from opposition parties and vehicle owners, who report lower mileage and higher costs for pre-2023 models. Gadkari noted a possible 2-6 percent drop in efficiency but said tests showed no engine damage. Poonawalla and his group demand that pure petrol, E5, and E10 options remain available for consumer choice.
