Punjab CM claims two-hour airport detention, demands Election Commission probe

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Wednesday alleged that he was held at Delhi airport for approximately two hours following his return from France, claiming officials cited pressure from higher authorities for the action. Speaking in the state assembly, Mann said he was also directed to pay an "arbitrary" penalty of ₹50,000 during the incident. The Chief Minister did not provide specific details about the nature of the alleged violation or the circumstances leading to the detention. Responding to the allegations, the Punjab Assembly passed a resolution seeking an independent inquiry into the Election Commission's operational conduct and decision-making processes. The move reflects escalating tensions between the state government and the poll body, which had been conducting elections in Punjab. Mann's claims have added to the ongoing political discourse regarding the autonomy and functioning of constitutional bodies in the conduct of electoral processes across India.