‘All Videos Are Fake, Let The Sikh Community Decide’: Punjab CM Mann Defends Himself Amid Row

Last Updated:June 24, 2026, 14:47 IST

For the past few days, as part of a dirty political campaign, my fake videos have been circulated, says Bhagwant Mann

Amid the controversy over an alleged video and now the allegations of Rs 10 lakh being purportedly paid to forge the report on it, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann maintained that “it was a dirty political campaign" against him.

Even as the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has called for Mann’s arrest and resignation, the Punjab CM said, “The Sikh community knows very well who is genuine and who is fake. …All the videos are fake. I am under the protection and judgment of the people…Let them decide."

Bhagwant Mann’s defence

“For the past few days, as part of a dirty political campaign, my fake videos have been circulated. When they find nothing else against me, they are trying to defame me on religious grounds, and based on those videos, they have declared me guilty. We also got the matter examined by a forensic laboratory, and the owners of that lab were attacked by the BJP," he said.

“The Sikh community knows very well who is genuine and who is fake. They are no longer in a position to show their face in Punjab, and now they are trying to malign me through religious propaganda. I am one of you. I will continue to work in the same way. I will maintain the same pace in my work," said Mann.

“Have posters of the Shiromani Akali Dal ever been put up in gurdwaras? They themselves had once admitted their mistakes before Akal Takht Sahib. They cannot tolerate the public support I am receiving. I stand sincerely for the rights and interests of Punjab. No one could even imagine such things in their dreams. All the videos are fake. I am under the protection and judgment of the people. Let the common people decide," he said.

“Now it is the turn of the people of Punjab to make their judgment. Schools and hospitals are being built. Let the Sikh community and the people decide for themselves. I am a servant of the people," said Mann.

The controversy, report and BJP’s demand

The BJP has demanded the immediate arrest and resignation of Mann following allegations that his administration bribed a cyber expert ₹10 lakh to forge a forensic report.

A video clip surfaced online showing a man resembling Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann allegedly sprinkling alcohol on pictures of Sikh Gurus. The Akal Takht, the highest Sikh temporal seat, got the video verified independently through two labs and declared it authentic. They officially declared Mann “Guru Dokhi" (anti-Guru) and “Khalsa Panth virodhi".

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In response, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government presented separate forensic and cyber-analysis reports claiming the video was fake, altered, or AI-generated to defame the Chief Minister.

The issue escalated significantly when the Gurugram Police registered an FIR and arrested two individuals linked to a cyber investigation firm. A Haryana-based forensic professional alleged that people representing senior Punjab government officials pressured and paid them ₹10 lakh in cash at a Gurugram hotel to falsify the clean-chit report.

About the Author

Manjiri Joshi

At the news desk for 20 years, the story of her life has revolved around finding pun, facts while reporting, on radio, heading a daily newspaper desk, teaching mass media students to now editing speci...Read More

News india ‘All Videos Are Fake, Let The Sikh Community Decide’: Punjab CM Mann Defends Himself Amid Row

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