Political unrest in India: Activist detained and Punjab CM's wife faces legal notice

In Delhi, activist Tehseen Poonawalla reported being placed under house arrest by police to prevent him from participating in a peaceful protest at Jantar Mantar. Poonawalla intended to protest rising sugar prices and the central government’s E20 fuel policy, which mandates a 20% ethanol blend in petrol. He characterized these policies as ‘sugar scams’ and ‘ethanol scams’ that benefit politically influential families while burdening the public. Poonawalla shared videos on social media showing police officials informing him that his permission to protest had been revoked due to law and order concerns.

In Punjab, a legal dispute has emerged involving Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, the wife of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Kaur has issued a legal notice to retired Judge Ranjit Singh, demanding an apology within 24 hours for allegations that she requested 5 crore rupees to suppress a rape case. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken cognizance of the matter, directing the Punjab Chief Secretary and Director General of Police to investigate the allegations and submit an action taken report within two weeks. The NHRC noted that the allegations involve serious concerns regarding women's safety and the right to a fair investigation, though no final conclusions have been reached.