AAP Alleges AAP CM Bhagwant Mann Was Detained at Delhi Airport for Three Hours, Fined 50,000
The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has alleged that Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was made to wait at Delhi airport for nearly three hours and deliberately harassed after returning from a visit to Paris. The party has also claimed that a fine of ₹50,000 was imposed on him, although the reason for the alleged penalty remains unclear.
AAP leaders alleged that Mann was targeted at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport because he belongs to an opposition party. They have also accused the Central government of being behind the alleged incident. However, neither the BJP nor the Delhi airport authorities have issued any official statement on the matter so far.
The Punjab Chief Minister had recently travelled to France. AAP leaders have also claimed that the Centre had previously delayed granting him permission to travel abroad for political reasons. According to the party, Mann was stopped at Delhi airport after returning from Paris.
AAP leaders further claimed that officials had acknowledged that Mann was held at the airport under pressure from higher authorities. The party has described the alleged incident as politically motivated harassment.
Baltej Pannu, AAP’s media in-charge in Punjab, and party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj alleged that Mann had to wait for an extended period at the airport after arriving from Paris. They claimed that his luggage was not handed over promptly and that he was repeatedly told that it was being checked.
According to the AAP leaders, Mann received his luggage only after nearly three hours. However, when he attempted to leave the airport, he was allegedly stopped again and handed a challan imposing a fine of ₹50,000.
The AAP leaders have not clarified the reason for the alleged fine. They also claimed that no chief minister of any state had previously been subjected to such treatment at an airport.
Meanwhile, the Central government and the Delhi airport authorities have yet to respond officially to the allegations made by the Aam Aadmi Party.
