AAP claims forensic tests cleared Punjab CM Mann in sacrilege video row

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday (June 8, 2026) claimed that forensic tests by two independent laboratories have found no match between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the person in the alleged sacrilege video, surrounding which the Akal Takht recently issued an edict against him, even as the Opposition flayed the AAP, daring him to undergo a lie detector test.

Senior AAP leader and Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, along with AAP Punjab Media In-Charge Baltej Pannu, on Thursday (June 18, 2026) said, “For several days, Akali Dal leaders had been attempting to inflame public emotions by circulating a fake video and falsely linking it to CM Bhagwant Mann. The entire episode was part of a larger political conspiracy aimed at defaming a popular Chief Minister who has consistently worked for the people of Punjab.”

Mr. Cheema said, “Two independent laboratories recognised by the Government of India thoroughly examined the viral video and arrived at the same conclusion. The forensic analysis examined a total of 1,191 frames from the video. Every aspect, including facial features, height, body structure, posture, movement patterns, side profile and back profile, was thoroughly analysed. The reports clearly conclude that the person shown in the video does not match CM Bhagwant Mann.”

Earlier this week, Sikh clergy at Akal Takht — the highest Sikh temporal seat — declared Mr. Mann ‘Guru Dokhi’ (a betrayer of the Guru) and ‘Khalsa Panth Virodhi’ (an opponent of Khalsa (Sikh) Panth), citing allegations that he made false statements in connection with a reportedly objectionable video involving him.

Hitting out at the AAP, Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal dared Chief Minister Mann to undergo a lie detection test. “Sri Akal Takht Sahib had asked Bhagwant Mann to nominate two forensic labs of his own choice so that the video’s authenticity could be verified. For nearly six months, he did not do that. At his total indifference, the video was referred to two forensic labs in the country. The labs found the video to be authentic and not AI-generated, as had been claimed by Mr. Mann. Now, he has gone back on that public admission and claims that the person in the video is not him. When found totally exposed, he has manipulated two fake lab reports within 2 days,” he said.

He announced that a ‘Dharam Yudh Morcha’ (campaign for righteousness) would be started from the Akal Takht on July 19 to remove Mr. Mann as Chief Minister.

Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring termed the AAP’s defence as “lame”, saying “AAP is trying to defend the indefensible and telling one lie after the other”.

“I wonder how the AAP had managed to procure a report from two different laboratories within 24 hours to give a clean chit to the Chief Minister.