Delhi BJP questions AAP over Bhagwant Mann's ₹50,000 customs fine
Synopsis
Delhi BJP chief Harsh Malhotra has called out Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann for allegedly trying to bypass customs at an airport while carrying luxury goods — and demanded Arvind Kejriwal explain what was in the bags. Separately, BJP hit AAP on the textbook quality row, pointing to 11 years of textbook crises under Kejriwal's Delhi government.
Key Takeaways
Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra on 23 October criticised Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann over an alleged attempt to pass through the airport green channel with taxable luxury goods.
Customs officials reportedly stopped Mann, inspected his baggage, and imposed a fine of ₹50,000 under the Customs Act, 1962 .
Malhotra demanded AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal publicly disclose the items on which the fine was levied.
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor countered AAP's criticism of textbook paper quality, citing a textbook shortage crisis across Classes 6–12 during AAP's 11-year rule in Delhi.
AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj was specifically targeted for raising textbook quality concerns despite being a minister during the alleged shortage years.
Delhi Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) President Harsh Malhotra on Friday, 23 October sharply criticised Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann over reports that he allegedly attempted to bypass customs formalities upon returning from a foreign trip, and demanded that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convenor Arvind Kejriwal publicly disclose the nature of the goods on which Mann was reportedly penalised. According to reports cited by Malhotra, customs officials stopped Mann at the airport, inspected his baggage, and subsequently imposed a fine of ₹50,000 under the Customs Act, 1962.
What the BJP Alleged
Malhotra, quoting reports, said Mann allegedly attempted to pass through the green channel despite purportedly carrying luxury taxable goods, in apparent violation of customs rules. Alert customs officials intercepted him, conducted a baggage inspection, and levied the fine on several items.
'People of the country and Punjab want Arvind Kejriwal to explain why Bhagwant Mann violated customs rules and what taxable goods he was allegedly trying to evade tax on,' Malhotra said.
Malhotra further alleged that Mann has become the first sitting Chief Minister in the country to be fined under the Customs Act, 1962. He questioned what signal the Punjab Chief Minister intended to send to ordinary citizens through such an alleged act.
BJP's Broader Attack on AAP's Record
In a separate but related political salvo on the same day, Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor targeted AAP over its criticism of the purported poor paper quality in textbooks distributed to students in Delhi government schools.
Kapoor contended that Delhi witnessed a textbook crisis for Classes 6 to 12 throughout AAP's 11-year rule of the city. He added that after the Kejriwal government assumed control of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) in 2022, it reportedly created a textbook shortage there as well.
According to Kapoor, cases related to the failure to supply textbooks reached the courts almost every year during Kejriwal's tenure, and the Education Department faced judicial reprimand on multiple occasions.
BJP Takes Aim at Saurabh Bharadwaj
Kapoor specifically targeted AAP leader Saurabh Bharadwaj, a former minister, who had recently raised concerns about the quality of paper used in textbooks distributed under the current dispensation. Kapoor argued it was 'laughable' that Bharadwaj — whose own government presided over repeated textbook shortages — was now positioning himself as an arbiter of textbook quality.
'It appears that Bharadwaj considers himself an expert capable of judging the quality of paper as well,' Kapoor said.
Context and What Comes Next
The BJP's twin offensive — targeting Mann on the customs issue and AAP on the textbook controversy — comes ahead of the Delhi Assembly session and amid ongoing political rivalry between the two parties in the capital. AAP has not yet issued a formal response to Malhotra's demand for details on the customs penalty. Whether the party chooses to address the specifics of the Mann customs episode could shape the political narrative in the coming days.
Point of View
Implicate the party chief, and force a response. But the attack carries risk: without a verified itemised list of the confiscated goods, the narrative depends heavily on reports Malhotra himself qualified as sourced from media. AAP, for its part, faces a dilemma — a detailed rebuttal keeps the story alive, while silence cedes the news cycle. The textbook counter-attack is a reminder that both parties are engaged in a mirror-image blame game ahead of the Delhi session, each trying to define the other's legacy before voters do.
NationPress
23 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann reportedly fined by customs?
According to reports cited by Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra, Mann allegedly attempted to pass through the airport green channel while carrying luxury taxable goods after returning from a foreign trip. Customs officials stopped him, inspected his baggage, and imposed a fine of ₹50,000 under the Customs Act, 1962.
What did Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra demand from Kejriwal?
Malhotra demanded that AAP convenor Arvind Kejriwal publicly explain why Mann allegedly violated customs rules and disclose the specific goods on which the ₹50,000 fine was imposed.
Is this the first time a sitting Chief Minister has been fined under the Customs Act?
Delhi BJP President Harsh Malhotra claimed that Mann has become the first sitting Chief Minister in India to be fined under the Customs Act, 1962, though this claim has not been independently verified.
What is the BJP's complaint about AAP and Delhi school textbooks?
Delhi BJP spokesperson Praveen Shankar Kapoor alleged that under AAP's 11-year rule of Delhi, there was a recurring textbook crisis for Classes 6 to 12, with cases reaching the courts almost every academic year. He argued that AAP's current criticism of textbook paper quality is hypocritical given its own record.
What has AAP said in response to the BJP's allegations?
As of the time of reporting, AAP had not issued a formal public response to Malhotra's demand for details on the Mann customs penalty or to Kapoor's textbook allegations.
