Bhagwant Mann Video Row: Raghav Chadha Demands FIR for Fabricated Forensic Report

The political and religious landscape of Punjab has been significantly stirred by the escalating controversy surrounding a video purportedly showing Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann engaging in disrespectful conduct towards Sikh Gurus. The row intensified recently with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha demanding an immediate First Information Report (FIR) against Mann under Punjab's anti-sacrilege law, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government of fabricating a forensic report to cover up the alleged incident. The genesis of this controversy dates back to October 2025, when a video surfaced online allegedly depicting a person resembling Bhagwant Mann consuming alcohol and splashing it on photographs of Sikh Gurus. The video quickly went viral, triggering widespread outrage among the Sikh community and drawing sharp criticism from opposition parties. Throughout the controversy, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has vehemently denied being the individual in the objectionable video. He has consistently maintained that the footage is fake, manipulated, or an AI-generated deepfake, deliberately circulated as part of a malicious political conspiracy by opponents, including the BJP, Congress, and Shiromani Akali Dal, to defame him and his government. Mann stated that a forensic analysis of 1,191 frames from the video found no match with him, asserting that the person in the video was an actor resembling him. However, the highest temporal seat of Sikh authority, the Akal Takht, has taken a firm stance on the matter. In January 2026, the Akal Takht had summoned Mann regarding the allegations. After Mann reportedly clarified to the Sikh clergy that the video was AI-generated, the Akal Takht requested him to suggest forensic laboratories for verification but received no response. Subsequently, the Akal Takht had the video examined by two central government-recognized forensic laboratories, which concluded that the footage was genuine, showing no evidence of editing, tampering, or artificial intelligence-generated manipulation. Based on these findings and alleging that Mann had made false statements, the Akal Takht declared him 'Guru Dokhi' (anti-Guru) and 'Khalsa Panth Virodhi' (anti-Khalsa Panth) on June 15, 2026. The Sikh clergy also directed the Sikh community to sever ties with Mann. The controversy escalated further with a dramatic turn in the investigation into the forensic reports. Gurugram Police arrested two individuals, Ankit and Arun, in connection with allegations of fabricating a forensic report that had declared the viral video fake. Ankit was a contract employee with the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and Arun worked with a Haryana Government program. The Gurugram Police investigation revealed that the 'laboratories' they claimed to represent (Cipher Sentinel lab and Cyberyaan Training and Consultancy) were not recognized or accredited by any government department. Police sources indicated that the accused allegedly received ₹10 lakh for fabricating the report and suggested the involvement of officials from a 'neighbouring state,' implicitly referring to Punjab. CCTV footage reportedly showed two Punjab Police officials visiting a Gurugram hotel to allegedly arrange this 'fabricated' forensic report. Raghav Chadha, who recently switched allegiance from AAP to BJP, utilized these developments to intensify his attack on Chief Minister Mann and the AAP government. Chadha alleged that the need for the AAP government to procure a fabricated forensic report demonstrated that the original video was indeed genuine. He called for a thorough investigation into how the alleged fabricated report was procured, which officials were involved, and whether government funds were misused, even raising questions about potential money laundering. Chadha stated that all doubts about the video's authenticity have now been cleared and demanded Mann's immediate resignation, insisting that the first FIR under Punjab's new anti-sacrilege law should be registered against Mann himself. He also questioned Sikh legislators within AAP, urging them to choose between Sikh principles and supporting the Chief Minister. The Akal Takht has also expressed concerns over the alleged 'blackout' of the FIR registration in sections of the Punjabi and regional media, emphasizing the public's right to unbiased information. The ongoing investigation by Gurugram Police and the strong accusations from opposition leaders are likely to keep this politically charged and religiously sensitive issue at the forefront in Punjab.

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