The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Sunday alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was detained for three hours at Delhi airport after returning from Paris and subsequently fined Rs 50,000, with officials purportedly citing “tremendous pressure from above”. The party did not specify the reason for the alleged detention or the fine.
Baltej Pannu, Punjab AAP's media in-charge, accused the Centre of deliberately obstructing Mann's efforts to attract investment to Punjab, alleging that the incident reflected the government's repeated denial of permission for the chief minister's overseas visits.
In a statement, Pannu said Mann had travelled to Paris after the Punjab and Haryana High Court allowed the state government's plea challenging the Centre's decision to deny him political clearance for the visit.
AAP alleges deliberate delay, pressure on officials
Pannu claimed Mann was denied due protocol during his visit to Paris, despite the high court's directions. He said the chief minister had travelled to the French capital to promote Punjab's products at SIAL Paris 2026, an international food trade exhibition running from October 17 to 21.
“He (Mann) had gone there to launch Punjab's famous products at the world's second-largest food festival. The high court had clearly directed that Mann be accorded his due protocol, but such was the ill intent of the Centre that even the Consul General in Paris did not come to meet the chief minister,” Pannu claimed.
He alleged that the treatment continued after Mann returned to Delhi.
“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'. These were outright lies and an insult to Punjab,” Pannu said.
According to the AAP leader, officials approached Mann after he had been allowed to leave and was preparing to depart 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',” he claimed.
Pannu further alleged that officials issued a challan of Rs 50,000, describing the episode as evidence of pressure from higher authorities.
“Then they issued a challan of Rs 50,000. The officials themselves admitted that they were under pressure, which proves that the entire episode was carried out under orders from above.
“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? This is happening solely because Mann is a Punjabi, is the Chief Minister of Punjab, and is working day and night for the betterment of Punjab,” the AAP leader charged.
AAP accuses Centre of repeatedly blocking foreign visits
Pannu accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the central government of undermining Punjab's interests, citing disputes over farmers' protests and the release of funds due to the state.
“Whether it is forcibly keeping farmers at Delhi's borders for one and a half years or withholding funds rightfully due to Punjab, the central government has constantly tried to choke Punjab at every level,” he claimed.
He also alleged that Mann had been denied permission for foreign visits at least four times, arguing that the Centre feared such trips could help Punjab secure investments and funding.
“So far, permission for Mann's foreign visits has been denied at least four times because the Modi government fears that if the CM travels abroad, he will bring investment and funds from there and put Punjab on the path of progress,” he claimed.
The Punjab and Haryana High Court had allowed the state government's plea challenging the Centre's denial of political clearance for Mann's Paris visit, which the state had described as arbitrary.
Mann attended SIAL Paris 2026, an international food trade exhibition scheduled to run until October 21. The AAP's allegations regarding his detention, the fine and the purported pressure on airport officials were not independently established in the information provided.