Tehseen Poonawalla under house arrest before E20 protest, offers cops sugarcane juice

Activist Tehseen Poonawalla was placed under house arrest by Delhi Police on Saturday as he attempted to leave his residence to protest against the Centre's E20 fuel policy and rising sugar prices, which he calls the 'sugar scam'. India Today reports that police told him his permission to protest at Jantar Mantar was cancelled, citing potential law-and-order problems. Poonawalla questioned the police's authority to detain him without documentation.

Videos shared by Poonawalla show him offering sugarcane juice to police officers outside his home, a sarcastic gesture highlighting his criticism of sugar price hikes. The Federal reports that Poonawalla, without naming anyone, attacked a 'sugar daddy' for making his sons rich while common citizens suffer. This is the second time this month Poonawalla has been detained ahead of an E20 protest.

Both outlets note that the E20 policy, which blends 20% ethanol with petrol, has drawn criticism from consumer groups and some opposition leaders who say it damages older vehicles and raises costs. No written detention order was shown in the videos. Poonawalla's Team Bharat group says it will continue to demand the Centre offer consumers a choice of fuel blends.