AAP claims forensic tests exonerate Punjab CM Mann in sacrilege row

In this picture released on June 18, 2026, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann speaks in a video message on important issues in Chandigarh. Image: X/@BhagwantMann via PTI

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday (June 8, 2026) claimed that forensic tests conducted by two independent laboratories found no match between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and the person in the alleged blasphemous video around which the Akal Takht recently issued an edict against him, even as the Opposition dared to expose him and expose the lie.

Senior AAP leader and Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema along with AAP Punjab Media Charge d’Affaires Baltej Pannu said on Thursday (June 18, 2026): “Akali Dal leaders have been trying for days to inflame public emotions by circulating a fake video and falsely linking him with the larger political section of CMn Bhag. defaming a popular Chief Minister who consistently worked for the people of Punjab.”

Mr Cheema said: “Two independent labs recognized by the Government of India thoroughly examined the viral video and came to 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 concluded that the person shown in the video does not match.”

Earlier this week, Sikh clerics at the Akal Takht – the supreme Sikh temporary seat – declared Mr Mann a “Guru Dokhi” (traitor to the Guru) and a “Khalsa Panth Virodhi” (opponent of the Khalsa (Sikh) Panth), accusing him of making false statements in connection with the reported video.

Shiromani Akali Dal President Sukhbir Singh Badal dared Chief Minister Mann to take a lie detector test on AAP. “Sri Akal Takht Sahib asked Bhagwant Mann to nominate two forensic labs of his choice so that the authenticity of the video could be verified. He failed to do so for almost six months. To his complete indifference, the video was referred to two forensic labs in the country. The labs found the video to be authentic and not generated by AI. Public access and claims that the person in the video is not him when he was found fully exposed, manipulated two fake lab reports in 2 days,” he said.

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

Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring called AAP’s defense “lame” and said “AAP is trying to defend the indefensible and is telling one lie after another”.

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

Published – 18 Jun 2026 22:07 IST