FIR registered against RTI activist and 9 bloggers for raising questions about the use of the government helicopter during Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s foreign tour in December 2025.
SNPNEWS.IN News (Gurmail Kamboj): Renowned Punjab RTI activist Manik Goyal, on December 8, 2025, made public the data regarding the (alleged) use of the government helicopter during Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s official foreign tour to Japan and South Korea, and sought information about the person(s) who used the helicopter.
Goyal claimed that on the said dates (during the Chief Minister’s foreign tour), the helicopter officially flew between Mohali and Amritsar. Following Goyal’s claim, bloggers Mintu Guru Saria, Gagan Ramgarhia, Harman Kisan, Mandeep Makkar, Gurial S Maan, Sanmu Dhaliwal, Manik Goyal, Arjan, Deep Mangli, and Lok Awaz TV (Maninder Dhaliwal) extensively reported on this claim through their social media accounts.
Read It: Chief Minister on Foreign Tour: Helicopter turn into a bullock cart on 8 Dec.
An FIR was registered against the aforementioned bloggers at the Cyber Crime Police Station in Ludhiana on December 12 under sections 173, 353(1), 353(2), and 61(2) of the BNS. The Ludhiana Cyber Crime Police termed these posts as false, misleading, and objectionable.
According to the police, these posts were made with the intent to create public unrest and erode trust in government institutions. Information about this FIR came to light publicly on January 1, 2026.
The Civil Aviation Department clarified that the helicopter was used by an authorised person for official work.
The Chandigarh Press Club and other journalist organisations have condemned this, calling it an attack on press freedom. Opposition parties (Congress, Akali Dal, BJP) have also accused the government of suppressing those who raise questions.
Bloggers/journalists have announced a protest in Chandigarh on January 4, 2026, which has been supported by Patiala MP Dharmvir Gandhi, social activists, and political parties.