Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was fined ₹50,000 by Customs officials at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on Wednesday. This incident occurred as he returned from Paris, where he attended the SIAL Paris 2026, an international food trade exhibition held from October 17 to 21. Mann’s trip followed a ruling from the Punjab and Haryana High Court, which allowed him to challenge the Centre’s earlier denial of political clearance for his visit.

Reports indicate that Mann was stopped due to alleged undeclared luxury goods in his possession. Sources informed NDTV that the fine was imposed by the Customs Duty Department, which cited the presence of these goods as the reason for the penalty. The situation has sparked a political controversy, with various parties exchanging accusations regarding the circumstances surrounding the fine.

AAP’s Allegations of Political Pressure

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has alleged that Mann was “forcefully” stopped at the airport and made to wait for three hours before being fined. Baltej Pannu, AAP’s media in-charge, claimed that airport officials stated they were under “tremendous pressure from above” to take action against Mann. He described the delay as an insult to Punjab and suggested that it was part of a broader pattern of the Centre denying Mann permission for foreign visits.

Pannu further claimed that upon Mann’s return, he was subjected to unnecessary delays, with officials providing excuses about luggage checks. He stated that after the three-hour wait, Customs officials approached Mann and issued the fine under duress, indicating that the entire incident was orchestrated by higher authorities.

The AAP leader accused the central government of creating obstacles for Punjab’s development, alleging that the Modi administration has consistently hindered the state’s progress by withholding funds and restricting Mann’s international engagements. He noted that Mann’s requests for foreign travel have been denied multiple times, asserting that this is an attempt to prevent the Chief Minister from attracting investment to Punjab.

BJP’s Response to AAP’s Claims

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has countered AAP’s allegations by asserting that Mann was found with undeclared luxury items, including expensive shoes and designer suits. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari claimed that Mann’s purchases, which included shoes worth ₹2.5 lakh and other high-value items, were not declared to Customs upon his return from Paris. Bhandari accused AAP of attempting to portray Mann as a victim in this situation.

Bhandari’s statements suggested that Mann’s actions were indicative of dishonesty, stating that the Chief Minister’s failure to declare these items was akin to theft. He questioned why Mann had not declared the luxury goods when returning from a trip that was framed as a promotional effort for Punjab’s agricultural products.

The BJP’s comments reflect a broader narrative that seeks to undermine AAP’s claims of victimisation, suggesting that the party is attempting to distract from Mann’s alleged misconduct. The ongoing exchange between AAP and BJP highlights the contentious political atmosphere in Punjab, particularly in the context of Mann’s leadership and the relationship between state and central authorities.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store – https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share