A social media post by user Ramakant Gaur on X claimed that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was detained at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport for three hours and fined ₹50,000, and that Delhi Customs Chief Manish Kumar, who is reportedly the brother of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, was involved.
Kejriwal reshared the post and asked, “Is this true?” The question came after AAP’s media wing alleged that the detention was a political move by the centre.
According to AAP media in‑charge Baltej Pannu, Mann was made to wait at the airport after returning from Paris, with customs officers citing issues with his luggage. AAP said the delay was a sign of pressure from senior officials.
Sources told Times Now that the ₹50,000 fine was levied for undeclared luxury goods, a standard customs procedure. Delhi Customs spokesperson said, “The fine is a routine measure for goods not declared during customs clearance.”
Gyanesh Kumar took office as India’s chief election commissioner on 19 February 2025. He is a 1988 batch IAS officer from Kerala cadre and has held senior positions in Union ministries.
The incident has intensified calls from AAP for a formal probe into customs practices, while Delhi Customs maintains its procedural integrity.