Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, along with AAP Punjab Media In-Charge Baltej Pannu, on Thursday exposed a sinister political conspiracy to defame Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, hurt religious sentiments and destabilise Punjab’s social harmony through a fake and fabricated video. Citing forensic investigations conducted by two independent Government of India-recognised laboratories, the leaders said the propaganda campaign has been completely demolished by scientific evidence, with a technical analysis of 1,191 video frames conclusively establishing that the individual seen in the viral video is not CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The AAP leaders pointed out that anti-Panth and anti-Punjab forces orchestrated the conspiracy after being rattled by the Bhagwant Mann Government’s enactment of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, and asserted that those responsible for creating and circulating the fabricated video would be identified, thoroughly investigated and brought to justice.
Addressing a press conference, senior AAP leader and Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that for several days Akali Dal leaders had been attempting to inflame public emotions by circulating a fake video and falsely linking it to CM Bhagwant Singh Mann. “The entire episode was part of a larger political conspiracy aimed at defaming a popular Chief Minister who has consistently worked for the people of Punjab,” he noted.
Harpal Singh Cheema said, “The truth has now come before the people of Punjab. Those who attempted to mislead the public and hurt religious sentiments by using a fabricated video have been completely exposed.”
Sharing details of the forensic investigations, Harpal Singh Cheema said that two independent laboratories recognised by the Government of India thoroughly examined the viral video and arrived at the same conclusion. The forensic analysis examined a total of 1,191 frames from the video. Every aspect, including facial features, height, body structure, posture, movement patterns, side profile and back profile, was thoroughly analysed. The reports clearly conclude that the person shown in the video does not match CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.”
The Minister said that according to the forensic reports, the height of the individual appearing in the video was estimated to be approximately 5 feet 10 inches, whereas CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s height is 5 feet 8 inches. He said significant differences were also identified in body structure, shoulder alignment, facial characteristics and overall posture.
Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Both laboratories independently arrived at the same conclusion and found no match between the person in the video and the Chief Minister.”
Calling out the Akali Dal, Harpal Singh Cheema said the party has a long and unfortunate history of exploiting religious issues for political gains while repeatedly failing to protect the sanctity of the Panth. He said, “The people of Punjab have not forgotten the 1986 Nakodar incident when sacred saroops of Sri Guru Granth Sahib Ji were set on fire during an Akali Dal government. They have not forgotten the subsequent police firing in which four Sikh youths were killed while demanding justice.”
Harpal Singh Cheema further pointed to the beadbi incidents of 2015 and the police firing at Behbal Kalan and Kotkapura during the Akali Dal-BJP regime. “The pattern is the same. Whenever Akali Dal and BJP were in power, beadbi incidents took place and justice was denied. The people of Punjab have not forgotten these painful chapters,” he added.
The Minister said that despite having two years in power after the 2015 beadbi incidents, the Akali Dal government failed to act even on the findings of the Justice Zora Singh Commission. “Successive Congress governments formed multiple Special Investigation Teams, yet meaningful action remained elusive until the AAP government came to power,” he added.
Harpal Singh Cheema said that Akali Dal has repeatedly sought votes in the name of the Panth and projected itself as the custodian of Panthic interests, but its record in government tells a different story. He said that whenever Akali Dal came to power, incidents hurting the sanctity of Sri Guru Granth Sahib took place under its watch, while those responsible continued to enjoy protection. “Akali Dal has a history of exploiting Panthic sentiments for political gains. It seeks votes in the name of the Panth but repeatedly fails to uphold the very values and principles it claims to represent,” said Harpal Singh Cheema.
Highlighting the initiatives undertaken by the Bhagwant Mann Government, Harpal Singh Cheema said that the Bhagwant Mann Government enacted the Jagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, 2026, providing stringent punishment, including life imprisonment and heavy financial penalties, for acts of beadbi.
He said, “Ever since the discussion around this landmark legislation began, certain forces have been desperately trying to target and defame CM Bhagwant Singh Mann. This fake video is part of that larger conspiracy.”
Warning strict action against those responsible, the Finance Minister said that the government would not spare any individual involved in creating or circulating the fabricated content. He said, “Conspiring against the Panth is a serious crime. Those responsible for creating and circulating this fake video will not be spared. They will be tracked down and brought to justice, no matter where they are. Every individual involved in this dirty conspiracy will be made accountable before the law.”
DON'T MISS
Speaking on the occasion, AAP Punjab Media In-Charge Baltej Pannu declared the fake video campaign as one of the most disgraceful attempts in Indian political history to malign a sitting Chief Minister. “The fabricated video was first circulated among journalists with an intention to get it aired as authentic content. However, responsible journalists refused to broadcast the material after recognising its dubious nature,” he added.
Baltej Pannu said, “When they failed to get the fake video aired through credible media channels, they intensified their conspiracy to defame CM Bhagwant Singh Mann through other means. This is perhaps the first time in India’s political history that such a cheap and malicious attempt has been made against a sitting Chief Minister.”
Baltej Pannu said that the Bhagwant Mann Government has been delivering results across sectors and that its governance record speaks for itself. He said, “The Bhagwant Mann Government has consistently worked for every section of society without discrimination based on religion, caste or region. Punjab has witnessed decisive governance and meaningful reforms under the leadership of CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.”
The Punjab Media In-charge pointed out that those named in investigations related to the 2015 beadbi cases and the subsequent police firing incidents were uncomfortable with the progress being made in these cases and were therefore attempting to divert attention through false propaganda.
He also referred to the ongoing legal proceedings in the Kotkapura firing case and claimed that certain political leaders were trying to shield themselves from accountability by launching smear campaigns against CM Bhagwant Singh Mann. “The people of Punjab can clearly see who is trying to protect the guilty and who is fighting for justice. The truth has now emerged through scientific forensic evidence,” he added.
Announcing further action, Baltej Pannu said that a delegation of the Aam Aadmi Party would meet the Punjab Director General of Police and formally demand a comprehensive investigation into the conspiracy. “We will seek a thorough probe into the individuals and organisations behind this fabricated video. Those who attempted to provoke religious sentiments, spread misinformation and destabilise Punjab’s social harmony must face the strictest legal consequences,” he added.
Baltej Pannu announced that a delegation of the AAP will soon meet the Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) and formally demand a comprehensive investigation into the entire conspiracy behind the fabricated video. He said the party would seek identification of every individual, organisation and network involved in creating, circulating and amplifying the fake content with the objective of provoking religious sentiments and defaming CM Bhagwant Singh Mann. “Those behind this conspiracy must be identified, exposed and brought to justice. Punjab cannot allow such deliberate attempts to disturb communal harmony and mislead the public through fabricated propaganda,” said Baltej Pannu.
Both leaders reiterated that the forensic findings have completely demolished the false narrative built around the viral video and exposed what they termed the anti-Panth and anti-Punjab politics of those responsible for creating and spreading it. “The truth has prevailed. The fake video has been exposed. The conspiracy has been exposed. The people of Punjab will never forgive those who attempted to exploit religious sentiments and malign a democratically elected Chief Minister for political gain,” they asserted.
