Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann detained at Delhi airport for three hours, fined Rs 50,000 by customs, claims AAP
PTC News Desk: The Aam Aadmi Party on Tuesday alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was detained for nearly three hours at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport after returning from Paris following which custom officials issued him a challan of Rs 50,000 claiming they were under “tremendous pressure from above”.
“When Mann returned from Paris and arrived at the Delhi airport, he was deliberately detained for three hours. Excuses were made that 'your luggage is still arriving' and 'your luggage is still being checked',” Pannu said in a statement.
ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਜੀ ਕੋਈ ਮੌਕਾ ਨਹੀਂ ਜਾਣ ਦਿੰਦੇ ਜਦੋਂ ਪੰਜਾਬੀਆਂ ਨੂੰ ਬੇਇੱਜ਼ਤ ਨਾ ਕਰਨ
ਦਿੱਲੀ ਏਅਰਪੋਰਟ ਤੇ ਮੁੱਖ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਭਗਵੰਤ ਮਾਨ ਜੀ ਨੂੰ ਰਾਤ ਤਿੰਨ ਘੰਟੇ ਇਸੇ ਖਿੱਝ ਤਹਿਤ ਰੋਕੀ ਰੱਖਿਆ ਕਿ ਉਹ ਪ੍ਰਧਾਨ ਮੰਤਰੀ ਜੀ ਦੇ ਰੋਕਣ ਦੇ ਬਾਵਜ਼ੂਦ ਅਦਾਲਤੀ ਹੁਕਮ ਨਾਲ ਪੈਰਿਸ ਕਿਉਂ ਗਏ?
ਅਤੇ ਉਨਾਂ ਦੇ ਉੱਥੋਂ ਜਾਣ ਦੇ ਬਾਅਦ 50 ਹਜ਼ਾਰ ਦਾ ਚਲਾਣ ਬਣਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ
— Baltej Pannu (@BaltejPannu) October 20, 2026
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has accused the central government of deliberately insulting Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and creating obstacles to the state’s progress. The party linked the alleged incident at the airport to previous instances when the Centre reportedly denied political clearance for Mann’s foreign visits.
AAP Punjab media in-charge Baltej Pannu alleged that Mann was made to wait at the airport for nearly three hours on the pretext that his luggage was still arriving and needed to be checked.
Pannu claimed that just as Mann was about to leave after loading his luggage into a vehicle, officials rushed towards him and said they were under “tremendous pressure from above”.
AAP alleges Centre blocked Mann's foreign visits
AAP has also linked the airport incident to the Centre’s earlier refusal to grant political clearance for Mann’s visit to Paris. The Punjab and Haryana High Court later overturned the decision and allowed the visit, directing that the chief minister be given proper protocol.
Mann travelled to Paris to attend SIAL Paris 2026, an international food trade exhibition being held from October 17 to 21. Punjab’s products were being promoted at the event through a Markfed stall.
Pannu alleged that the Centre had blocked Mann’s foreign visits on at least four occasions. He also claimed that the Consul General in Paris did not meet Mann despite the court’s directions on protocol.
The AAP leader accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of repeatedly treating Punjab unfairly. He cited issues such as the alleged withholding of funds due to the state and the handling of farmers’ protests at Delhi’s borders.
Meanwhile, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia made separate allegations about the airport incident. He claimed that Customs officials stopped Mann and his wife, Gurpreet Kaur, for around three hours over questions about excess luggage or money beyond the permitted limits.
Majithia alleged that the couple was questioned before being allowed to leave, taking Mann’s position as chief minister into consideration. He also claimed that officials were instructed to check the bags of staff accompanying the Chief Minister’s Office.
- PTC NEWS
