Sikh body passes resolution seeking FIR against CM Mann, cops in viral video row

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) on Saturday passed a resolution demanding the registration of an FIR against Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and police officials who prepared a forensic report in Gurugram in connection with the ongoing controversy over an alleged viral video.

Announcing the decision after the SGPC General House meeting, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami said the committee has resolved to seek an FIR against Mann for allegedly hurting religious sentiments, committing sacrilege, misusing his constitutional office, using government machinery to fabricate evidence, and suppressing facts in the viral video case.

"We will meet DGP Punjab for the same," Dhami said.

According to the resolution, the SGPC has taken the step as it has not received any satisfactory response from the chief minister over the controversy so far.

The development comes amid the installation of hoardings calling for the social boycott of Chief Minister Mann at several places across Punjab, including Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Bathinda and Amritsar.

The posters mention the June 15 edict issued by the Sikh clergy from the podium of the Akal Takht, declaring Mann "Guru Dokhi" (anti-Guru) and "Khalsa Panth Virodhi" (anti-Khalsa Panth) over the controversial video.

The Akal Takht had summoned Mann in January this year for allegedly making comments on "Guru ki Golak" (gurdwara donation box) and indulging in "objectionable activities" with pictures of the Sikh Gurus and slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the purported video clip.

In Hoshiarpur, the posters have been installed at multiple locations, including near Gurdwara Harian Velan village Bajrawar on the Hoshiarpur-Chandigarh road, near Chabbewal bus stop, in front of Gurdwara Shaheedan Ladhewali in Mahilpur, Tuto Majara village, old bus stand Mahilpur and Gurdwara Garna Sahib Dasuya.

While pronouncing the June 15 edict, Akal Takht Jathedar Kuldip Singh Gargajj had directed members of the Sikh community not to associate with Mann.

On Thursday, Mann questioned the SGPC over the installation of the boards outside gurdwaras.

"Boards have been put up outside gurdwaras asking people to boycott me in the name of the orders of Sri Akal Takht Sahib, whose supreme authority I fully respect along with the entire Sikh Sangat across the world," Mann said.

He also questioned why similar boards were not installed against former Akali leader Sukhbir Singh Badal when he was declared "tankhaiya" (guilty of religious misconduct).

"Why were such boards not put up against Sukhbir Badal when he was declared 'tankhaiya'? Why were people not asked to boycott those held responsible for sacrilege incidents and police firing?" Mann asked.

The chief minister further alleged that the SGPC president's loyalties lay with a political party rather than the Panth.

"When the SGPC president himself says he is a soldier of Sukhbir Badal rather than Guru Gobind Singh Ji, it becomes clear where his loyalties lie," Mann said.

In a Facebook post on Friday, Mann said, "No tactic of the opponents is succeeding in stopping the path of truth and service. Those who present themselves as soldiers of a political party rather than of the 'Panth' have now had their true face exposed before the people."

"We were true servants of the Guru's house yesterday, we are today and we will always remain so in the future," he added.

Addressing the media in Mohali on Thursday, Mann displayed a purported video clip to support his claim that the person seen in the controversial video was wearing a mask resembling his face.

When he appeared before the Akal Takht on January 15, Mann had submitted that the video was fake or AI-generated and said the Sikh clergy could get it examined by any forensic laboratory in the country.

On June 18, Mann reiterated that he was not the person seen in the objectionable video and claimed that an actor had imitated him. He cited reports from two laboratories stating that the individual in the video was someone else.

On Thursday, Mann further claimed that a mask resembling his face had been procured and used to fabricate the video. He also said the man in the video did not have the surgical scar on his throat, asserting that he was not the person shown in the footage.

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