Dominique Strauss-Kahn reacted with imperious disbelief — falsely claiming diplomatic immunity and complaining about his handcuffs — as he was pulled off a Paris-bound plane at JFK a month ago on charges he’d tried to rape a hotel maid.

According to police statements released for the first time yesterday, the thenhead of the International Monetary Fund and French presidential hopeful repeatedly asked officials, “What is this about?” and “What for?”

“Is that necessary?” he asked detectives as the cuffs went on at the airport’s Port Authority precinct.

Told “yes, it is,” Strauss- Kahn protested, “But I have diplomatic immunity.”

“Can I speak to someone from the French Consulate?” he asked PA cops, who told him that only NYPD officers could explain things to him at that point.

En route to the Manhattan Special Victims Unit, Strauss-Kahn tried again to find out what was going on, asking his NYPD detectivechauffeurs, “What is this about?”

“Manhattan detectives need to speak to you about an incident in a hotel room,” he was told.

“Then I need to make a call and let them know I won’t be at my meeting tomorrow,” said Strauss-Kahn, who had been scheduled to visit the German chancellor.

By 11 o’clock — after six hours in custody — he had spoken to his lawyer, William Taylor, who advised Strauss-Kahn to remain silent, which he did.

laura.italiano@nypost.com