Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was fined Rs 50,000 by Delhi Airport customs after returning from Paris on October 18, 2026—an action taken over undeclared luxury items found in his luggage. The fine was levied by the Customs Duty Department after officials inspected his bags at the Green Channel, where they discovered goods that had not been declared and therefore attracted a duty.
Mann had flown into Delhi following a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that cleared his travel to promote Punjab’s agricultural products at the SIAL Paris trade fair. He was accompanied by his staff and his wife Gurpreet Kaur, who was also present when the officers stopped him.
According to AAP media in‑charge Baltej Pannu, the chief minister was detained for three hours before the challan of Rs 50,000 was issued. Pannu blasted the move as an "insult to Punjabis" and claimed the officers acted under pressure from higher authorities. AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj echoed the sentiment, calling the central government’s actions "arrogance".
SAD General Secretary Bikram Singh Majithia added that Mann and his wife were held for violating the law, further inflaming the political backlash. The incident has sparked a bitter exchange between state and centre, with the AAP demanding accountability for what it sees as an unearned penalty.
Mann intends to challenge the fine in the Delhi High Court next week, seeking a reversal of the customs assessment and a formal apology from airport officials. The outcome of that filing could set a precedent for how state leaders are treated by central agencies in future travel incidents.