Punjab CM Faces Customs Fine at Delhi Airport
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann encountered an unexpected hurdle upon his return from France, facing a ₹50,000 fine at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport. Customs officials reportedly intercepted Mann on October 19, 2026, for allegedly carrying undeclared goods in his luggage, leading to a penalty for non-compliance with customs regulations.
Mann, who was returning from Paris with his wife, Dr. Gurpreet Kaur, on an Air France flight, attempted to exit through the Green Channel—designated for passengers with nothing to declare. However, officials reportedly stopped him, examined his baggage, and found items that required declaration via the Red Channel.
Undeclared Items and Political Reactions
While the exact nature and value of the goods remain undisclosed by the Customs Department, airport sources described them as "undeclared luxury items." In contrast, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Mann's political party, maintains that the items were personal, daily-use belongings such as shoes, belts, clothes, and watches. The penalty, according to reports, was a customs duty levied on these undeclared items.
The incident quickly escalated into a political controversy. AAP alleged that the Chief Minister was detained for approximately three hours and faced "political harassment" from the Centre. AAP's media in-charge, Baltej Pannu, claimed airport officials cited "tremendous pressure from above" for their actions. The party also linked the incident to Mann's Paris visit, where he had promoted Punjab's regional products at a major food exhibition, accusing the Centre of attempting to "humiliate" the CM and the people of Punjab.
Payment and Official Stance
Initially, two Punjab government officials, Principal Secretary Ravi Bhagat and Resident Commissioner S. Karuna Raju, paid the ₹50,000 fine, which was later reimbursed by Chief Minister Mann. Customs officials have not issued a detailed public statement naming the specific items or explaining the duty calculation, only confirming that the penalty was imposed due to a failure to declare certain items in his luggage.
Neither Mann's office nor the Customs Department has provided a comprehensive list of the items involved, leaving the precise details of the undeclared goods open to speculation. The controversy highlights ongoing tensions between the state government and central authorities.