When sugar daddy is scared...: Tehseen Poonawalla claims detention at E20 protest
Sunday’s incident marked the latest confrontation between Poonawalla and Delhi Police over his opposition to the E20 policy.
Tehseen Poonawalla is an entrepreneur, political analyst, columnist and civil rights activist who frequently appears on national television debates to discuss Indian politics, public policy and current affairs. His television appearances, legal activism and campaigns on issues ranging from electoral reforms to fuel policy have kept him in the national spotlight.
Poonawalla has been at the centre of a national debate over the Centre's E20 ethanol-blended petrol policy. Leading a group called Team Bharat, he has described the programme as an ethanol scam, arguing that mandatory 20% ethanol blending reduces fuel efficiency while consumers continue to pay higher prices. He has also raised concerns about the impact of E20 fuel on vehicles manufactured before 2023 and has campaigned for greater transparency and policy review.
Born in Pune, Maharashtra, in May 1981, Poonawalla is a TEDx speaker and life coach. He is married to Monica Vadera, cousin of businessman Robert Vadra, making him a distant relative of Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by marriage. He is also the elder brother of BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla, though the two have publicly differed on political issues over the years.
Poonawalla has been active in public advocacy through legal interventions, public campaigns and Right to Information (RTI) applications. He has often taken up issues relating to accountability, governance and transparency. Apart from political commentary, he has worked as a social media consultant, entrepreneur and author.
Sunday’s incident marked the latest confrontation between Poonawalla and Delhi Police over his opposition to the E20 policy.
Days after attending and addressing the reservation reform protest at New Delhi's Jantar Mantar, influencer Ajeet Bharti has been booked under the SC/ST Act over remarks on Nagina MP Chandrashekhar Azad. Bharti has called the FIR "pressure-driven" and said it "won't survive two minutes in court".
Activist Tehseen Poonawalla claimed he was put under house arrest by the Delhi Police as he tried to leave home for a Jantar Mantar protest against sugar prices and the E20 policy. He posted a video of the confrontation on his social media, claiming that he was being denied the right to protest over sugar and ethanol policies.
Did the government simply copy ethanol standards from the US? Activist Tehseen Poonawalla has raised the question after sharing a video of Nitin Gadkari speaking about how India framed ethanol standards.
Activist Tehseen Poonawalla, who announced a protest march to Gandhi Smriti and a hunger strike over the E20 fuel policy, claimed he was put under house arrest by the Delhi Police on Saturday.
Stepping up his campaign against E20 petrol, AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal said he will march to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's residence on August 4 to submit a petition signed by over two lakh people against the Centre's E20 policy. Kejriwal said he would be taking 100 people unafraid of lathis with him.
AAP Convenor Arvind Kejriwal is all set to launch a campaign against the Centre's ethanol-blended petrol policy in New Delhi on Saturday by holding a "National Town Hall Against E20". Activist Tehseen Poonawalla will also be escalating his agitation with a silent march and hunger strike in Delhi.
Union minister Nitin Gadkari dared critics of the E20 rollout to bring him one person whose vehicle had been damaged due to ethanol-blended petrol. Protesters have accepted his challenge and said they will present the minister with not one, but six such car owners. They have sought an appointment with him.
After protests online and offline, the government seems to be going slow on its plans of higher blends of ethanol in petrol. However, for protesters like Tehseen Poonawalla, the reported rethink on E25 is just the "first victory". The government has to make suitable fuel available for all vehicles, they say.
New Delhi's Jantar Mantar became the ground for the first protest against the Centre's decision to make the sale of 20% ethanol-blended (E20) petrol mandatory. Among the protesters were ardent BJP supporters and a person who said he had been linked to the RSS for decades.
From stalled engines and falling mileage to costly repairs, allegations made on social media were heard on the streets of Delhi as people protested against the implementation of the ethanol-blending policy. Motorists at Delhi's Jantar Mantar claimed E20 petrol was damaging their cars, and that they had evidence of that.
Organisers of Sunday's anti-E20 protest at Jantar Mantar say that the Delhi Police, while giving verbal permission, has imposed a 200-person cap. Entrepreneur Tehseen Poonwalla, who is leading the agitation, has criticised the cops' decision and also warned to expose lies by government-backed auto industry experts.
India is set to witness its first street protest over the sale of ethanol-blended petrol. A protest led by entrepreneur Tehseen Poonawalla is planned at Delhi's Jantar Mantar on Sunday. What if police permission isn't granted? Poonawalla shares his alternative plan, in a light-hearted manner, but with steely resolve.
Tehseen Poonawalla responded to online criticism of Salman Khan’s brief smile in the teaser for Battle of Galwan. He argued that the expression reflects composure and psychological strength rather than levity.
Actor Shefali Jariwala, known for her 'Bigg Boss 13' stint and the hit 'Kaanta Laga', died at the age of 42 following a cardiac arrest. Her untimely death has left the entertainment industry and fans in shock.
The Supreme Court said that since it was already concluded that no offence was made out, the High Court should not have exercised its advisory jurisdiction by commenting on the priest’s societal contributions compared to those of the accused. In 2019, the High Court imposed a penalty of Rs 10 lakh on political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla.
The state government told the Supreme Court that the Cyber Cells at the district headquarter-level have been directed to keep a constant watch on social media platforms and to inform senior officers immediately if any hate speech-related video or reel is uploaded.
As former Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan joined the BJP, Congress supporter Tehseen Poonawalla said one of the factors that led to the fall of the MVA government was remarks by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut. Poonawalla asked Uddhav Thackeray to rein him in.
During the hearing, the bench enquired whether guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court in the Tehseen Poonawalla case were being complied with.
Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla highlighted how his 15-year-old car, which he had kept for sentimental reasons in a gated colony in Delhi, was being towed away. The towing away of old cars to scrapyards has shocked Delhiites. This is how the system works.
In this episode of Political Stock Exchange, we examine the controversy surrounding the government's push for ethanol-blended petrol policy and the CVoter survey's responses to what common man of the country thinks about the move.
The big talking point of this edition of 'To The Point' is the controversy surrounding the Netflix thriller 'Ghooskhor Pandat' following protests from Brahmin groups.
In this Special Report, Gaurav Sawant examines India's 77th Republic Day celebrations and the nation's evolving security paradigm. The program highlights European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s statement regarding India’s role in global stability and the progress of the India-EU security and defense partnership. A central focus is placed on 'Operation Sindoor' and a Swiss military think-tank report detailing India's air superiority over Pakistan. Experts Lieutenant General K.J.S. Dhillon and Air Marshal M. Mateshwaran analyze precision strikes on strategic targets, including Sargodha and Jacobabad airbases, which reportedly called Pakistan's nuclear bluff. The discussion covers reported casualties of 400 Pakistani soldiers in the Lipa Valley and the impact of Indian political will on regional dynamics. Additional coverage includes AI-enabled surveillance displays at Kartavya Path, the historic participation of women in military contingents, an internal purge within China's PLA, and the upcoming India-EU Free Trade Agreement. The report also addresses entry restriction controversies at Badrinath-Kedarnath temples.
In this episode of India First, host Gaurav Sawant leads a heated debate on the Badrinath-Kedarnath Temple Committee's proposal to restrict non-Hindu entry to protect Vedic culture. Gaurav Sawant notes that 'Devbhumi Uttarakhand is staring at a fresh flashpoint' as faith and politics collide. Political analyst Tehseen Poonawalla argues against the move, stating that Hinduism is an inclusive way of life and that as someone from a Muslim family who worships Lord Shiva, such restrictions feel unfair. Conversely, author Shantanu Gupta supports the committee's right to set rules, citing global examples like Mecca and specific Christian monasteries where entry is restricted. The discussion explores whether these measures are necessary to maintain sanctity or if they represent a divisive agenda, especially following reports of Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami backing the committee's decision-making authority.
Tehseen Poonawalla has alleged that his car, which was parked in a private parking space, was towed away by the Delhi transportation department. But can a car be towed away from a private parking lot, if so, what do the laws pertaining to this say? Watch this video to find out.