Jalandhar Court Orders Takedown Of Atishi Video; AAP Demands Apology

Last Updated:January 15, 2026, 16:40 IST

The court asked social media platforms Meta (Facebook and Instagram), X, and Telegram to remove the video linked to specific URLs within 24 hours of receiving the order.

AAP leader Atishi (PTI Image)

A court in Jalandhar has ordered the immediate removal and blocking of a fake video that falsely showed former Delhi chief minister Atishi making controversial remarks about the ninth Sikh guru, Guru Tegh Bahadur.

The court said the video was digitally “doctored" and could disturb public order and communal harmony in Punjab.

The order was passed on Thursday by the additional chief judicial magistrate after the Jalandhar cyber crime police approached the court. The police argued that the circulation of the video on social media posed a serious risk of spreading religious tension.

In its directions, the court invoked Rule 3(d) of the Information Technology Rules, 2021.

It asked social media platforms Meta (Facebook and Instagram), X, and Telegram to remove the video linked to specific URLs within 24 hours of receiving the order.

“The allegedly offensive material is directed to be removed forthwith and in any event within 24 hours of the receipt of the court order," said the court.

The court also directed that all similar, mirror, or edited versions of the content be blocked as soon as they are identified by the state cyber crime department. A compliance report has been sought within 10 days.

The police told the court that a technical investigation proved the video was not genuine.

Social media experts first used the AI tool Gemini to identify signs of digital manipulation. This was followed by a detailed examination by the state forensic science laboratory (FSL) in Mohali.

According to the FSL report, which was based on auditory and spectrographic analysis, the word “Guru" was never spoken by Atishi in the video. The captions were deliberately added to falsely attribute words to her that she did not say.

An FIR was registered on January 7 after a complaint by local AAP leader Iqbal Singh Bagga. He alleged that the video was shared on X by Delhi minister Kapil Mishra, Congress MLAs Sukhpal Singh Khaira and Pargat Singh, and Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, with the intent to create political controversy.

AAP’s Reaction

Reacting to the court proceedings, AAP leader Saurabh Bhardwaj said the forensic report had clearly established that Atishi never used the word “Guru" in the video.

“Today, it has been accepted in court that the forensic report, based on auditory and spectrographic examination and metadata analysis, has concluded that the word ‘Guru’ was not spoken in the video," he said.

“After today’s statement, the BJP should immediately remove Kapil Mishra from his post as minister. Majinder Singh Sirsa should also be removed from his post at once. Sirsa should apologise," Bhardwaj added.

He further said that the forensic report was presented before the Jalandhar court in Punjab in connection with the video shared by Kapil Mishra. “The court accepted that the forensic report clearly shows that the word ‘Guru’ was not used at all in the video," Bhardwaj said.

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