Who is masking truth in alleged Bhagwant Mann viral video case?

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has put forward a new "mask theory" to defend himself in the controversy surrounding an alleged viral video that has triggered a political storm in the state. Rejecting allegations that he appears in the video, Mann claimed that an impostor wearing a mask of his face was used to defame him.

Addressing a press conference on Thursday, the chief minister presented a separate video and argued that it proves someone wore a mask resembling his face to create fake videos and damage his image. He maintained that he was not the person seen in the viral clip and left it to the "Sangat" to decide whether his explanation was convincing.

CM MANN'S 'MASK THEORY'

During the press conference, Mann showed a video that he claimed exposed the use of a facial mask. Explaining his position, he said, "I have said many times I am not the person in the video and this video I am showing you will reveal everything."

The chief minister listed several points to support his claim. He said the physique of the person in the video did not match his own and that the individual appeared to be around two inches taller. He argued that the walking style and standing posture were different from his own.

Mann further claimed the person was wearing a mask, saying the chin did not resemble his and that a surgery mark on his chin was missing. He also pointed to what he described as a visible line around the neck, wrinkles near the ears caused by the mask, and the use of goggles to conceal the eyes. According to him, another clip clearly showed Canada-based Jagman Samra holding a mask bearing his face.

The chief minister accused Samra of orchestrating a campaign to blackmail and defame him. Mann also claimed that masks of both him and AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal had been created by the alleged blackmailer.

SGPC REJECTS THE 'MASK THEORY'

The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) rejected the chief minister's latest defence.

SGPC chief secretary Kulwant Singh Mannan questioned why the Punjab government had earlier sought a forensic examination if the video was allegedly fake.

"If the CM is saying it was a mask and the video is fake, then what was the need of going to Gurugram and spending Rs. 10 lakh to get a report? What was the need of sending police officers to Gurugram and booking rooms there? If the video was fake, why make so much effort? The report would have made everything clear. The CM's lie has been caught," Mannan said.

He further said that when Mann appeared before the Akal Takht Secretariat, he had been asked to get the video examined but did not do so. Mannan alleged that after the Akal Takht got the video examined, the chief minister rejected its findings. He demanded that a case be registered against Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema, alleging a conspiracy.

HOW THE CONTROVERSY BEGAN

The controversy centres on a video that went viral in late 2025. The video allegedly showed a man sprinkling liquor on photographs of Sikh Gurus. Canada-based Jagman Samra claimed that the man seen in the video was Bhagwant Mann, triggering widespread outrage in Punjab.

Following the controversy, the Akal Takht Sahib took cognisance of the matter and summoned the chief minister to its secretariat on January 15.

During his appearance, Mann reportedly told Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj that the viral video had been generated using artificial intelligence.

However, on June 15, the Akal Takht Sahib announced that a forensic examination had concluded that the video was original and not AI-generated.

After considering the report, the five Sikh high priests directed the Sikh Panth to socially boycott Bhagwant Mann. The Akal Takht also declared him "Guru Dokhi".

COMPETING FORENSIC REPORTS

Following criticism and the Akal Takht's directions, the Punjab government obtained another forensic report from Gurugram. Punjab Cabinet Minister Harpal Cheema presented the report before the media, stating that it concluded the man seen in the video was not Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.

Soon afterwards, Haryana Police arrested two people after a complaint alleged that two Punjab Police officials had paid Rs. 10 lakh to forensic experts to obtain a fabricated forensic report.

The complaint, filed by Jaspreet Singh, alleged that the money was paid to manipulate the findings.

At the time, Mann dismissed Haryana Police's action as a political move by the BJP, saying Haryana had a BJP government capable of orchestrating such actions.

On Thursday, however, the chief minister introduced a fresh defence by claiming that a mask had been used to create fake videos.

DIFFERENT VIDEOS, DIFFERENT CLAIMS

A key point in the controversy is that the video shown by Bhagwant Mann during Thursday's press conference is not the same video that sparked the original controversy.

The original disputed video allegedly shows a man inside a room with photographs of Sikh Gurus on the wall. The individual is seen sprinkling liquor on the photographs while walking around the room, which also contains a television.

The video presented by Mann on Thursday is different. It does not contain photographs of the Gurus and is a shortened clip focusing primarily on the neck area, where the chief minister claimed a facial mask is visible. The clip also shows the person preparing to wear goggles.

OPPOSITION QUESTIONS LATEST CLAIM

The chief minister's latest explanation has drawn criticism from political opponents, who argue that his position has changed repeatedly.

Shiromani Akali Dal leader Bikram Singh Majithia said, "Punjab CM is changing his stance every day. First he said it was an AI-generated video, then he said it was not him and cited a forensic report from Gurugram, and now he says it was a mask. What should we believe? The video shown by the CM is not the video in question. The video on which the Akal Takht acted is different. I demand a CBI probe into the matter."

Jagman Samra also rejected the chief minister's latest claim.

He said, "When CM Mann came to Canada, he stayed with me for five to seven days and I looked after him. He also visited my village in Sangrur district. Today he is talking about a mask, but if it was really a mask, then what was the need to obtain a forensic report from Gurugram? Also, why does the forensic report not mention the presence of a mask?"

TIMELINE OF THE CONTROVERSY

• Late 2025: A video goes viral with allegations that it shows Bhagwant Mann sprinkling liquor on photographs of Sikh Gurus.
• January 15: Akal Takht Sahib summons Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Mann says the video is AI-generated.
• June 15: Akal Takht Sahib says forensic examination concludes the video is original and not AI-generated. The five Sikh high priests direct the Sikh Panth to socially boycott Mann and declare him "Guru Dokhi".
• June 18: Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema presents a Gurugram forensic report claiming the man in the video is not Bhagwant Mann.
• After June 18: Haryana Police allege that Rs. 10 lakh was paid by Punjab Police officials to obtain a fabricated forensic report and arrest two people in the case. Mann calls the action a BJP conspiracy.
• June 25: Bhagwant Mann presents another video and introduces the "mask theory", claiming fake videos were created using a mask resembling his face.

- Ends