AAP Claims Punjab Chief Minister Was Detained for Three Hours After Returning From Paris; BJP Seeks Clarification Over Bottle That Allegedly Attracted Customs Duty
New Delhi: A political controversy has erupted over allegations that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was questioned by customs officials at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport after returning from France late on October 19. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) claims Mann was made to wait for around three hours and was fined approximately ₹50,000–₹55,000, while the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has questioned what item he was carrying that allegedly attracted such a substantial customs duty.
Speaking to ETV Bharat senior correspondent Anamika Ratna, BJP national spokesperson RP Singh asked what kind of bottle Mann had brought back from abroad that required prolonged questioning and the payment of a significant duty. Singh said the BJP wanted clarification about the item in question.
Mann Visited Paris to Promote Punjab’s Products
Mann travelled to Paris to promote Punjab’s products at SIAL Paris 2026, an international food trade exhibition scheduled from October 17 to 21. According to the report, the Centre did not grant political clearance for the visit, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court permitted the trip.
The alleged customs action took place after Mann returned from France late on October 19.
AAP Alleges Deliberate Delay
Baltej Pannu, AAP’s Punjab media in-charge, alleged that Mann was deliberately held at the airport for three hours. He claimed officials delayed the Chief Minister under the pretext of checking his luggage and imposed a challan of around ₹50,000 just as he was preparing to leave.
According to Pannu, officials referred to “heavy pressure from above” while taking the action. AAP described the incident as an insult to Punjab and alleged political vendetta by the Centre.
These allegations have not been independently established in the information available in the report.
BJP Links Controversy to Punjab’s Drug Problem
Responding to the controversy, Singh shifted the focus to Punjab’s long-running drug problem. He alleged that drug addiction was affecting young people across the state and said the BJP had been campaigning against narcotics.
Singh also made allegations concerning a Punjab government minister’s alleged involvement with drugs. The report does not provide details or independent evidence substantiating that claim.
The BJP spokesperson further criticised the state’s law-and-order situation, alleging that there was inadequate deterrence against crime. He referred to the killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhotta in Mansa district and questioned the delay in initiating a CBI investigation.
Singh asked whether the Punjab government would answer for the situation.
Drug Issue Emerges as a Political Flashpoint
Drug abuse has remained a major political issue in Punjab. The AAP government has promoted its Yudh Nashian Virudh campaign, citing enforcement action, seizures and treatment facilities as part of its efforts to combat the problem. The BJP and other opposition parties, however, have accused the state government of failing to tackle the issue effectively.
The killing of anti-drug activist Parvinder Singh Jhotta in Mansa has added to the political debate.
The airport episode has now opened another front in the confrontation between AAP and the BJP. While AAP has alleged political interference in the action against Mann, the BJP has demanded answers about the item that reportedly attracted customs duty and has used the controversy to raise wider questions about the Punjab government.
The precise circumstances surrounding the alleged airport delay, the nature of the item in question and the basis for the reported fine remain unclear from the available account.
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