Chandigarh: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has alleged that he was made to wait for around two hours at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport after returning from Paris, claiming that Customs officials found nothing in his luggage.
Reacting to reports that he was stopped at the airport and fined by Customs officials, Mann said he had been asked to remain there while his baggage was checked.
“They made me sit there for two hours, saying they were checking my luggage. Nothing was found in my luggage,” Mann said.
The Chief Minister also alleged that the airport action was motivated by revenge, linking his claim to an alleged family connection between a senior Customs official and Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
What Did Bhagwant Mann Say About The Airport Incident?
Mann alleged that a person named Manish, whom he identified as the head of Customs at Delhi airport, was the brother of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
He claimed the action against him was an attempt to settle scores, saying, “So, whenever he gets an opportunity, he takes revenge.”
The allegations came amid reports that Mann had been stopped by Customs officials after arriving in Delhi from Paris. His remarks disputed the suggestion that anything objectionable had been found in his luggage.
However, the claims about the circumstances of the airport check and the alleged relationship between the officials have not been independently verified.
Customs Authorities’ Response Awaited
As of the available information, there was no immediate response from Customs authorities to Mann’s allegations. Details regarding the reported fine, the reason for the luggage inspection and the outcome of the check were also not independently confirmed.
The incident has drawn attention because of Mann’s position as Punjab Chief Minister and his allegation that the airport action was retaliatory. Any assessment of the claim will depend on further details from the authorities and other verifiable information about the incident.
