Bhagwant Mann, Punjab’s chief minister, told lawmakers that customs officials at Delhi Airport held him for two hours after his return from Paris, demanding a Rs 50,000 fine.
Mann alleged that the customs head, Manish Kumar, is the brother of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, suggesting the delay was a deliberate act of revenge.
The incident followed a Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling that the Centre’s denial of political clearance for Mann’s trip was arbitrary, clearing the way for his attendance at SIAL Paris 2026, the international food trade exhibition from 17 to 21 October.
In a session on Friday, the Punjab Assembly adopted a resolution seeking an independent inquiry into alleged irregularities within the Election Commission’s operations, citing the customs incident as evidence of broader malfeasance.
Mann’s wife, who accompanied him, said the two‑hour detention left her anxious, and a senior BJP delegate present at the airport described the delay as intimidation.
The state government will respond to the resolution by Monday, and the inquiry panel is slated to begin work within the next month.