Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann’s Helicopter Use Goes Viral on Facebook: FIR Against 10 People Raises Questions Over Transparency and Freedom of Expression
Flight-tracking data shared by RTI activist Manik Goyal triggered controversy during the Chief Minister’s Japan and South Korea visit; Punjab Police registered an FIR, while the High Court subsequently granted interim relief to petitioners.
A controversy over the use of the Punjab government’s helicopter by an authorised constitutional authority went viral on Facebook and other social media platforms during Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s official visit to Japan and South Korea in December 2025. The central question raised by social media users was straightforward: if the Chief Minister was abroad, who was using the Punjab government helicopter, and for what official purpose?
The controversy gained momentum after RTI activist Manik Goyal shared flight-tracking information from FlightRadar24 on December 8, 2025. According to the information circulated online, the Punjab government helicopter had undertaken flights from Chandigarh towards Amritsar and other locations before returning to Chandigarh. The flight movements attracted considerable attention, with Facebook users, YouTubers and digital media platforms questioning the identity of the passenger and the purpose of the journeys.
On December 12, 2025, Ludhiana Cyber Crime Police registered an FIR against 10 individuals and persons associated with digital media platforms. Those named reportedly included RTI activist Manik Goyal, Mintu Gursaria, Gagan Ramgarhia, Harman Farmer, Mandeep Makkar and Lok Awaz TV, among others.According to the police, the accused had allegedly circulated misleading information by misinterpreting flight-tracking data and combining it with unrelated photographs and videos to create a false narrative about the helicopter’s use.The FIR invoked Sections 353(1), 353(2) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. These are allegations made by the police and should not be treated as proven criminal conduct.
The Punjab Civil Aviation Department defended the helicopter’s use, stating that it had been used by a duly authorised constitutional authority. However, the clarification did not end the public debate about who had travelled in the helicopter, the purpose of the journey and the expenditure involved.
Punjab and Haryana High Court Grants Interim Relief
The controversy took another turn on January 13, 2026, when the Punjab and Haryana High Court granted interim relief to Manik Goyal and three journalists and stayed further investigation in connection with the FIR, pending further proceedings. The court also issued notice to the Punjab government.
The petitioners argued that they had raised questions on the basis of publicly available flight-tracking information and that their actions fell within the rights to freedom of expression and journalistic inquiry.The case has raised an important democratic question: should citizens, journalists and RTI activists face criminal proceedings simply for questioning the use of government-owned aircraft and other public resources?At the same time, the circulation of fabricated or deliberately misleading information must be examined under the law. The distinction between legitimate criticism and the intentional spread of false information is important.
Another significant aspect of the controversy concerns an RTI application reportedly filed by Manik Goyal in 2024, seeking details of Punjab government’s expenditure on helicopters and chartered aircraft from March 2022 onwards.According to the petitioners, the government refused to provide the requested information, citing security concerns.This has renewed questions about transparency in the use of public money. Even if specific flight routes, passenger identities or security-sensitive details cannot be disclosed, the government can still provide aggregate expenditure figures, administrative approvals and the department responsible for the payments.
Punjab is already facing serious discussions about rising government debt, financial commitments and expenditure priorities. In such circumstances, questions about the Chief Minister’s helicopter, chartered aircraft and VIP travel deserve clear and documented answers.The Punjab government should clarify who used the helicopter on December 8, 2025, under whose authority the journey was undertaken, what its official purpose was and how much public money was spent.The government should also publish a transparent account of its aircraft and helicopter expenditure since 2022, subject to legitimate security exemptions.A government helicopter does not belong personally to a Chief Minister or a political party. It is a public asset maintained with taxpayers’ money. Citizens have the right to ask questions about its use, while the government has a responsibility to provide accurate and verifiable answers.The issue is not merely about a helicopter or a social media controversy. It concerns transparency, responsible use of public funds, freedom of expression and accountability in Punjab’s administration.Punjab’s citizens deserve facts, official records and clear explanations rather than prolonged political arguments and competing allegations.
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Editorial note: The FIR represents allegations, not convictions. The High Court’s interim order should not be described as a final decision on the merits of the case.Disclaimer: This article and accompanying images are for informational and illustrative purposes only. Some visuals may be AI-generated or digitally enhanced and may not depict actual events or persons.Views expressed are based on publicly available information and analysis