Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab chief spokesperson Baltej Pannu held a press conference and alleged that a fake video is being circulated on social media which as per them is part of a political conspiracy aimed at defaming Punjab CM Bhagwant Singh Mann and creating unrest in state, Cheema claimed that the video was fabricated and deliberately circulated to mislead people and damage Chief Minister's image and he further alleged that the conspiracy was linked to leaders of Akali Dal who according to him were attempting to provoke sentiments in Punjab and spread misinformation.
Cheema said independent forensic examinations had been conducted on the video and stated that reports prepared by laboratories located outside Punjab analysed facial features, height, body posture and other physical characteristics of the person seen in the said video and according to him the reports concluded that the individual shown in the video did not match CM Mann at all, he said the reports clearly indicated that another person had allegedly been used in the video and that the individual shown was not CM Mann and he maintained that laboratories were independent institutions located outside Punjab and therefore could not be accused of being influenced by state government.
Referring to state's recently enacted anti-sacrilege bill Cheema said Punjab government had introduced Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act, 2026 to deal strictly with incidents of sacrilege and said law provides stringent punishment and includes provisions for a financial penalty of up to Rs 25 lakh for those found guilty of sacrilege. Cheema alleged that some political parties had become uncomfortable after introduction of this law and were now targeting CM. He claimed that government had taken several decisions concerning farmers, youth, Dalits and other sections of society since coming to power in 2022 and these decisions had gained public support.
Cheema also referred to 2015 sacrilege incidents and subsequent police firing cases including Kotkapura and Behbal Kalan incidents and alleged that these events occurred during SAD-BJP government's tenure. Cheema said people had demanded justice in those cases for years and claimed that investigations and reports had not delivered complete justice to victims and he further alleged that incidents of sacrilege and subsequent police action had taken place during Akali Dal government's tenure and said Punjab voters had removed party from power in 2017 Assembly elections due to public dissatisfaction over those issues.
Cheema also said that after 2017 several Special Investigation Teams (SITs) and inquiries were constituted but the cases continued to remain a matter of public concern and alleged that Akali Dal was now attempting to use religion and public sentiment for political purposes and accused the party of trying to create confusion among people.
The Finance Minister stated that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann had consistently worked for Punjab's interests and had focused on issues concerning farmers, youth and common citizens. He said efforts were being made to tarnish Chief Minister's image but maintained that facts and evidence would eventually prevail.
Speaking at the same press conference AAP Punjab chief spokesperson Baltej Pannu also described the video as fake and alleged that it had been circulated among journalists for publication and broadcast and he claimed that some individuals had approached media organisations and requested that the video be aired but according to him when certain journalists refused to publish the material alternative methods were allegedly used to circulate it.
He termed the episode unprecedented and also alleged that it was first time in Punjab's history that such an effort had been made to target and defame a sitting CM through a fabricated video.
Pannu said AAP government had undertaken several development and welfare initiatives and claimed that public support for government had increased and he praised Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema's handling of state's finances and said government had continued functioning without repeatedly claiming that state treasury was empty.
Referring to anti-sacrilege law and ongoing investigations into sacrilege-related cases Pannu alleged that certain political leaders were uncomfortable with recent developments and he specifically mentioned progress in investigations related to the past sacrilege cease and said some accused persons in those cases including former Punjab Deputy Chief Minister and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal were currently facing legal proceedings and were out on bail. He alleged that progress in these investigations had caused concern among those whose names had surfaced in connection with the cases.
AAP leader claimed that when attempts to influence public opinion through video did not succeed Chief Minister Mann was directly targeted. He announced that party leaders would meet Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav and seek an investigation into alleged conspiracy behind circulation of the video and said the party wanted authorities to identify individuals responsible and take appropriate legal action.
The controversy began after a video circulated on social media allegedly showing Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
Chief Minister strongly denied that the person in the video was him and described the clip as fake and politically motivated. Chief Minister also alleged that a politically motivated campaign was being run to damage his reputation because of decisions taken by his government regarding Punjab's water resources, youth welfare, agriculture and religious matters.
Mann reiterated his respect for Sri Akal Takht Sahib and said he had always regarded it as the highest temporal authority of Sikhs but rejected allegations linked to the video and appealed to the Sikh Sangat not to be influenced by what he described as misleading propaganda.
