'Why Get a Forensic Report': AAP's Attempt To Defuse Bhagwant Mann Video Row Backfires

Last Updated:June 25, 2026, 10:48 IST

AAP faces internal unease over handling of Bhagwant Mann video, Gurgaon Police arrests spark questions on forensic report, Akal Takht summons Mann and AAP on June 29

The Aam Aadmi Party’s (AAP) attempt to counter the controversy surrounding a purported video of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has reportedly left sections of the party uncomfortable, with several leaders privately calling it an avoidable “self-goal".

The unease grew after Gurgaon Police arrested two men on a complaint by a forensic expert, who alleged that two senior Punjab Police officers paid him Rs 10 lakh to prepare a report declaring the video purportedly featuring Mann as fake.

Questions Raised Over Forensic Report

The development has triggered debate within the party over the decision to seek a forensic analysis. An AAP MLA said the party had already maintained that the video was manipulated and questioned the need to obtain a report from a laboratory in a BJP-ruled state.

“Where was the need for this forensic report? The party had already taken a stand that the video was fake. If there was any requirement, a report could have been sought from a laboratory in Punjab itself," the MLA was quoted as saying by the Indian Express.

While police have remained silent on the authenticity of the video, some party leaders believe the controversy has shifted attention from the footage itself to the manner in which the party handled the issue.

Internal Differences Surface

Another senior AAP leader said there had been discussions within the party on whether obtaining a forensic report was necessary. According to the leader, some members advised against it, while others favoured the move.

“Now it has boomeranged instead of helping," the leader said, as reported by the outlet.

The issue also sparked a debate over whether a technical rebuttal was needed or whether a categorical denial would have sufficed. Another leader admitted that the party was now facing an embarrassing situation and warned that there could be repercussions.

“We do not know how to get out of this. There will be a fallout. Some heads may roll in the coming days," the leader said.

Akal Takht Summons Mann

Mann has been under fire from the Akal Takht, which has alleged that the person in the video is the Punjab Chief Minister. Based on what the footage purportedly shows, the Sikh temporal body declared him “Guru dokhi" and “panth virodhi". Mann and the AAP have denied the allegation, insisting that the video was manipulated.

The AAP had earlier claimed that forensic reports obtained by the party concluded that the individual in the video was not Mann. According to the party, the analysis was based on 1,191 reference points, including facial recognition, frame extraction, height assessment, gait analysis and body posture examination.

The Akal Takht has summoned Mann and the AAP on June 29 to explain their position regarding the video, though the party has not yet announced whether it will appear before the Sikh body.

Opposition Voices And Party Response

Former AAP spokesperson Iqbal Singh, who quit the party two years ago, also questioned the decision to seek a forensic report. He said the party had initially dismissed the clip as AI-generated and claimed that many people had accepted that explanation.

Iqbal alleged that the party may have acted out of concern over the reaction of Sikh voters and accused its leadership of mishandling the controversy.

Despite the criticism, AAP has publicly backed Mann. Cabinet minister Baljit Kaur accused opponents of trying to tarnish the Chief Minister’s image and reiterated that the video was fake.

AAP Punjab president Aman Arora questioned the actions of Haryana Police, saying that if the Punjab government had intended to secure a favourable report, it could have relied on laboratories within Punjab.

Meanwhile, Mann’s aide Baltej Pannu said Punjab Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav was investigating the entire episode, including the authenticity of the video, the identity of those appearing in it and the people responsible for circulating it.

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