Ravneet Bittu Bottle Claim: With ₹70,000 Bottle Bittu Targets CM Mann in Escalating BJP-AAP Clash

Ravneet Bittu Bottle Claim: The Full Backstory of Bhagwant Mann’s Paris Visit, HC Nod, and Delhi Airport Row

North Desk Correspondent

Chandigarh, October 27

A high-voltage political clash erupted in Punjab after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ravneet Singh Bittu brandished an imported luxury liquor bottle, claiming it was tied to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s recent transit through Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport.

Holding up the bottle before media personnel in Chandigarh, Bittu claimed it was worth approximately ₹70,000, alleging that the Chief Minister was splurging on ultra-expensive foreign items while Punjab grapples with mounting public debt.

‘This Is Revenge’: CM Mann Links Detention to CEC Gyanesh Kumar’s Brother

However, Bittu’s demonstration is the culmination of a bitter fortnight-long political standoff involving diplomatic clearances, High Court intervention, a ₹50,000 customs penalty, and explosive allegations against the Election Commission of India.

Ravneet Bittu Bottle Claim:

1. The High Court Battle: Centre’s Clearance Denied, HC Steps In

The root of the controversy lies in Bhagwant Mann’s official trip to Paris to attend SIAL Paris (an international food trade exhibition) to promote Punjab’s agro-export interests.

• The Centre’s Objection: The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) denied political clearance for Mann’s travel, citing security assessments and protocol parameters.

• The Legal Challenge: The Punjab government moved the Punjab and Haryana High Court, arguing that the Centre’s refusal was arbitrary and that foreign clearances of Opposition Chief Ministers were being systematically blocked.

• The Court’s Relief: The High Court overturned the Centre’s rejection, explicitly clearing the decks for Mann’s delegation to fly to France. Mann openly questioned why an elected Chief Minister had to approach the judiciary simply to travel abroad to seek investment.

2. Delhi Airport Drama: 3-Hour Delay and the ₹50,000 Customs Fine

Upon his return from France, Mann and his delegation landed at Delhi’s IGI Airport, where customs authorities stopped them.

• The Delay & Fine: AAP leadership alleged that Mann was deliberately held up and “harassed” for over two to three hours. Customs officials subsequently slapped a ₹50,000 penalty/challan on the Chief Minister regarding undeclared luggage or personal effects.

• AAP’s Stand: AAP leaders stated that the penalty was paid under protest after airport officials allegedly admitted they were acting under “tremendous pressure from above” to manufacture an issue.

3. Mann’s Explosive Charge: Linking Customs to CEC Gyanesh Kumar

Stepping outside the Punjab Assembly, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann directly tied the airport confrontation to political retribution.

• The Revenge Charge: Mann alleged that Delhi Airport Customs is headed by Manish Kumar, the brother of Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.

• “Settling Scores”: Mann told reporters that the Centre and central authorities used the CEC’s family link to settle political scores and deliberately humiliate him because of AAP’s confrontational stance against the Election Commission and central agencies.

• Punjab Assembly Resolution: The Punjab Assembly followed up by passing a formal resolution demanding an independent investigation into electoral irregularities and the functioning of the EC under CEC Kumar.

4. Bittu’s Counter-Offensive: The ₹70,000 Luxury Bottle Claim

Seizing on the airport penalty, BJP leaders escalated the rhetoric. While BJP spokespersons initially claimed Mann was bringing in designer suits and high-end goods, Ravneet Singh Bittu took it a step further by physically bringing a luxury liquor bottle to protests in Chandigarh:

“This is the bottle which was found with Bhagwant Mann at the Delhi airport. Punjab has been ruined, looted… this bottle costs Rs 70,000. While Punjab suffers from governance bankruptcy, the CM indulges in foreign luxury.”

AAP leaders dismissed Bittu’s bottle display as a completely fictitious, cheap theatrical prop, challenging him to show any official customs seizure memo that mentions a confiscated ₹70,000 liquor bottle.

ALSO: Bhagwant Mann Paris Visit: Here’s Why HC Overruled Centre’s Denial To Punjab CM

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