Bhagwant Mann detained at Delhi airport for 3 hours after Paris visit, fined Rs 50,000, claims AAP
New Delhi: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was made to wait for nearly three hours at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after returning from Paris and was later issued a challan of Rs 50,000. The party claimed that officials cited “tremendous pressure from above” while dealing with the chief minister.
AAP has accused the Centre of targeting Mann and obstructing Punjab’s progress. However, the party has not clarified the reason for the reported challan.
Baltej Pannu, the party’s media in-charge in Punjab, claimed that officials repeatedly told Mann that his luggage was arriving and undergoing checks, keeping him at the airport for nearly three hours.
“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.
He further alleged that officials approached Mann as he was about to leave in a vehicle with his luggage.
“After three hours, when Mann was allowed to leave and was about to depart after placing his luggage in a vehicle, officials came running after him and said that they were under ‘tremendous pressure from above’,” Pannu claimed.
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj also criticised the alleged incident in a post on X, linking it to the Centre’s earlier refusal to grant political clearance for Mann’s foreign visit.
“Mann Saab stopped at Indian Airport for around 3 hours. Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann went to Paris to launch Punjab’s products at Paris. This was after he challenged Centre’s not granting him the NOC. This arrogance of Centre must end. Even Ravan’s arrogance ended on Dussehra.,” Bharadwaj said.
“Has any chief minister of an Indian state ever been detained at an airport for three hours in this manner? Has any chief minister of a state ever been disrespected by being issued a challan of Rs 50,000?” Pannu asked.
The reason for the challan have not been specified in the party’s statement.
Mann travelled to Paris to attend SIAL Paris 2026, an international food trade exhibition scheduled from October 17 to 21. Punjab’s products were being promoted at the event through a Markfed stall.
The AAP said the Punjab and Haryana High Court had overturned the Centre’s refusal to grant political clearance for the trip and directed that Mann receive due protocol.
Pannu also alleged that permission for Mann’s overseas visits had been denied on at least four occasions. He further claimed that the Consul General in Paris did not meet the chief minister despite the court’s direction.
Separately, Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia alleged that Customs officials had questioned Mann and his wife, Gurpreet Kaur, for around three hours over concerns about excess luggage or money beyond permitted limits.
Majithia claimed that the couple was eventually allowed to leave after officials considered Mann’s position as chief minister. He also alleged that staff accompanying the chief minister’s office were asked to have their bags checked.