Senior Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader and Cabinet Minister Harpal Singh Cheema, along with AAP Punjab Media In-Charge Baltej Pannu, on Thursday exposed a sinister political conspiracy to defame Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann, hurt religious sentiments and destabilise Punjab’s social harmony through a fake and fabricated video. Citing forensic investigations conducted by two independent Government of India-recognised laboratories, the leaders said the propaganda campaign has been completely demolished by scientific evidence, with a technical analysis of 1,191 video frames conclusively establishing that the individual seen in the viral video is not CM Bhagwant Singh Mann.
The AAP leaders pointed out that anti-Panth and anti-Punjab forces orchestrated the conspiracy after being rattled by the Bhagwant Mann Government’s enactment of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar Act, and asserted that those responsible for creating and circulating the fabricated video would be identified, thoroughly investigated and brought to justice.
Addressing a press conference, senior AAP leader and Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said that 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 Singh 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,” he noted.
Sharing details of the forensic investigations, Harpal Singh Cheema said that 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 Singh Mann.”
The Minister said that according to the forensic reports, the height of the individual appearing in the video was estimated to be approximately 5 feet 10 inches, whereas CM Bhagwant Singh Mann’s height is 5 feet 8 inches. He said significant differences were also identified in body structure, shoulder alignment, facial characteristics and overall posture.
Harpal Singh Cheema said, “Both laboratories independently arrived at the same conclusion and found no match between the person in the video and the Chief Minister.”
Warning strict action against those responsible, the Finance Minister said that the government would not spare any individual involved in creating or circulating the fabricated content. He said, “Conspiring against the Panth is a serious crime. Those responsible for creating and circulating this fake video will not be spared. They will be tracked down and brought to justice, no matter where they are. Every individual involved in this dirty conspiracy will be made accountable before the law.”
Speaking on the occasion, AAP Punjab Media In-Charge Baltej Pannu declared the fake video campaign as one of the most disgraceful attempts in Indian political history to malign a sitting Chief Minister. “The fabricated video was first circulated among journalists with an intention to get it aired as authentic content. However, responsible journalists refused to broadcast the material after recognising its dubious nature,” he added.
Baltej Pannu said, “When they failed to get the fake video aired through credible media channels, they intensified their conspiracy to defame CM Bhagwant Singh Mann through other means. This is perhaps the first time in India’s political history that such a cheap and malicious attempt has been made against a sitting Chief Minister.”
The Punjab Media In-charge pointed out that those named in investigations related to the 2015 beadbi cases and the subsequent police firing incidents were uncomfortable with the progress being made in these cases and were therefore attempting to divert attention through false propaganda.
He also referred to the ongoing legal proceedings in the Kotkapura firing case and claimed that certain political leaders were trying to shield themselves from accountability by launching smear campaigns against CM Bhagwant Singh Mann. “The people of Punjab can clearly see who is trying to protect the guilty and who is fighting for justice. The truth has now emerged through scientific forensic evidence,” he added.