Mann cites forensic reports, says actor mimicked him in ‘fake’ obscene video

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday reiterated that it was not him in an objectionable video over which a Sikh clergy issued an edict against him, saying some actor was imitating him.

Mann also cited reports of two labs, showing that the man in the alleged objectionable video was someone else.

He further said he was being targeted by those who could not tolerate pro-people decisions being taken by him.

The Akal Takht on Monday declared Mann 'Guru Dokhi' (anti-Guru) and 'Khalsa Panth virodhi' (anti-Khalsa Panth) over the video.

In a video statement, the chief minister said his entire public life has been dedicated to serving people and safeguarding the interests of Punjab, and that no amount of political propaganda can weaken his bond with 'Sangat' or the people of the state.

Citing findings of reports of the two forensic labs in connection with the objectionable video, he said that 1,191 frames in the video were checked.

"Not a single frame matches my face from any angle, my side profile, my front profile, my eyes, my height, my physique or my body structure. The reports clearly establish that someone used another individual to create this fake video with the specific intention of declaring it to be a video of Bhagwant Mann and then defaming me," he stated.

The chief minister further said there is a difference of one inch in his height as compared to the individual seen in the video. "How could it be possible that my height increases by one inch in the video?" he asked, while sharing the outcome of the lab reports.

"Nobody knows when this video was recorded. Nobody knows where it was recorded. Nobody knows who originally circulated it," he said.

"The only thing that is clear is that when I take decisions in favour of the people of Punjab, those decisions are becoming unbearable for certain people," he noted.

Mann said he was surprised that those who have become "self-appointed" custodians of religion and the political people who appointed their favourites to important positions are now attaching his name to a fake video in which he was not even present.

"Some actor is imitating me, styling his hair like mine and trying to resemble me," he said.

"Based on some so-called investigation, they are declaring me 'Panth-Virodhi' from the 'faseel' (podium) of Sri Akal Takht Sahib and telling people not to associate with Bhagwant Mann. This is open political propaganda," said Mann.

Referring to the forensic reports, Mann said these even analyse the surroundings visible in the video, including the table and the hotel room.

Mann said on the basis of the two reports, he has instructed the DGP that whoever carried out this act should be identified and brought before people.

"Thereafter, the 'Nanak Naam Leva' Sangat will decide. The Sangat of Sri Guru Nanak Dev Ji is supreme.

"Sri Akal Takht Sahib is supreme and our heads bow before it. However, decisions taken in this manner and announced from the Takht have not been accepted by many people," he affirmed.

Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema said forensic tests by two labs showed that the man in the alleged objectionable video was not Mann.

These two labs are independent, located outside Punjab and recognised by the government of India, Cheema said, adding that these labs independently arrived at the same conclusion.

The edict of the Akal Takht came after Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj claimed that the video circulating on social media, purportedly showing a man resembling Mann, was found to be "authentic" by the two forensic laboratories. The video was neither tinkered with nor AI-generated, he had said.

Mann has already rejected the video, saying it was "false propaganda" aimed at defaming him.

The matter stems from the summoning of Mann by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of Sikhs, in January this year for allegedly making comments on 'Guru ki Golak' (gurdwara donation box) and indulging in "objectionable activities" with the pictures of the Sikh Gurus and slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in a purported video clip.