While Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann was on a foreign tour, RTI activist Manik Goyal raised serious questions about the flights of the state’s official helicopter.
SNPNEWS.IN News (Gurmail Kamboj): Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had gone to Japan and South Korea on 8-10 December with the hope of investment in Punjab. During this, the Punjab government is expecting investments of more than Rs 500 crore, which will create lakhs of jobs. Many big firms from Japan and Korea have shown interest in investing in Punjab. Mann has described this tour as a golden opportunity for the youth of Punjab and has shared detailed information after returning.
During this visit, RTI activist Manik Goyal raised questions over the use of Punjab government helicopter (VT-PSG), as per information shared by Goyal on social media, (VT-PSG) flew between Chandigarh and Amritsar on December 8. It is likely being used for internal work (like district level trips or emergencies). But the controversy in this case has arisen because (VT-PSG) has also been used for Kejriwal’s personal/political visits in the past.
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This controversy had also taken place in 2022-2023, where Rs 44-55 lakh was spent for Gujarat/Himachal elections. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) criticized that national politics is being done with the money of Punjab taxpayers. Union Home Minister Amit Shah had said that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has become “Kejriwal’s pilot”.
Kejriwal has been increasingly active in Punjab since his defeat and arrest in Delhi. He visited Punjab 12 times before the Ludhiana by-election in March 2025, each time by helicopter.
Delhi Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa posted on X in March 2025, “Punjab is not Kejriwal’s personal estate! He is using Punjab’s helicopter as a personal ride. Is he the Chief Minister of Punjab or his travel agent?” This happened before the Ludhiana by-election, when Kejriwal was living in Punjab.
Similarly, in October 2025, Rajya Sabha MP Swati Maliwal revealed that Kejriwal has acquired a 2-acre 7-star bungalow (with helipad) in Sector-2, Chandigarh, after Delhi’s “Sheesh Mahal”. He travels from his home in Ambala to his private jet by helicopter. This is a case of using the entire government machinery for one person.