The controversy involving Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann intensified after Akal Takht alleged selective media coverage over an FIR in the fake digital forensic report case. Gurugram Police registered the FIR over an alleged forged report linked to an AI-generated video controversy and arrested two persons.
The political and legal dispute involving Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann grew sharper on Wednesday after the Akal Takht accused sections of Punjabi and regional media of intentionally minimising the filing of an FIR in the alleged fake digital forensic report case. The FIR relates to the viral video controversy, while Mann continued to claim that the opposition was spreading misleading material, including fabricated videos, to tarnish his image.
The most recent development came after Gurugram Police registered an FIR over allegations that a forged digital forensic report was created to support the claim that the controversial video involving Mann had been generated using Artificial Intelligence. Reportedly, two persons have been arrested, and investigators are examining the circumstances in which the report was allegedly prepared.
After the FIR was registered, the Akal Takht said that the filing of a criminal case was a major legal step that should have been widely reported. Instead, it alleged that several Punjabi and regional media outlets either ignored the development or covered it in a limited way. Calling it a “blackout,” the Sikh religious body questioned whether key updates concerning a constitutional functionary and allegations linked to religious sentiments were being selectively reported.
“The registration of an FIR in such an important matter has virtually been blacked out by sections of the Punjabi and regional media,” the Akal Takht said, adding that the public has the right to receive complete and unbiased information about the controversy.
The controversy is tied to a viral video that allegedly shows objectionable conduct in the presence of respected Sikh figures. Earlier this month, the Akal Takht declared Mann “Guru Dokhi” and “Khalsa Panth Virodhi,” stating that it relied on forensic reports which, according to the body, concluded that the video was genuine and not AI-generated or digitally altered. The announcement led to intense political reactions across Punjab and calls from Sikh organisations for accountability from the Chief Minister.
Mann, however, has repeatedly denied that he is the person shown in the video and rejected the accusations. Speaking to the media on Wednesday, he alleged that opposition parties were using religion as a political weapon against him. He claimed that “fake videos” were being circulated to damage his image and asserted that the dispute was part of a wider conspiracy targeting him and the Aam Aadmi Party.
Adding that his political opponents had come together to malign his reputation,Mann said,
“The opposition parties are trying to defame me. They are releasing fake videos,”
He also alleged that owners of forensic laboratories were pressured and threatened into claiming they had prepared fabricated reports, arguing that the controversy was politically driven rather than based on reliable evidence.
These competing narratives have further complicated an already sensitive dispute involving allegations of religious sacrilege, conflicting forensic claims, and ongoing criminal proceedings. While the Akal Takht maintains that forensic examinations support its position on the authenticity of the video, Mann continues to insist that the clip is fabricated and that he has been wrongly implicated through a coordinated political effort.
With the FIR now in place, the controversy has taken on a new legal dimension, as investigators are probing the alleged preparation and use of a forged forensic report. The investigation’s findings could be crucial, since they may determine whether criminal responsibility attaches to the preparation or dissemination of forensic material connected to the dispute. As the Haryana Police investigation continues, attention is expected to focus on the authenticity of the forensic evidence, the legality of how it was prepared, and the broader political impact of one of Punjab’s most closely watched controversies.
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