Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has strongly denied allegations arising from a purported viral video that allegedly showed desecration of photographs of Sikh Gurus, asserting that he does not appear in the footage.
The Chief Minister claimed that a detailed forensic examination had established that the person seen in the video was an actor resembling him and not him.
Addressing the controversy, Mann said that 1,191 frames from the video were subjected to forensic analysis and that none of them matched his facial features. He described the incident as part of a “well-planned conspiracy” aimed at tarnishing his image.
Chief Minister (CM) of Punjab|Bhagwant Mann
Forensic Examination Found No Match, Says Mann
According to the Chief Minister, investigators carried out an extensive frame-by-frame analysis of the video. He maintained that the findings conclusively proved that the individual in the footage was not him.
“It is not me in the viral video, but an actor who looks like me. A total of 1,191 frames were examined during the forensic analysis, and not a single frame matches me,” Mann said while dismissing the allegations.
The controversy erupted after a video circulated on social media allegedly depicting the desecration of photographs of Sikh Gurus, triggering outrage and political reactions.
Directions Issued to Punjab Police
Bhagwant Mann said he has instructed the Director General of Police (DGP) to identify those responsible for allegedly orchestrating the campaign against him. He accused unnamed individuals of deliberately spreading misinformation to malign his reputation.
The Chief Minister asserted that the state government would pursue those involved and ensure that legal action is taken against them.
‘Guilty Will Be Brought Back From Any Corner of the World’
Warning strict action against those behind the alleged conspiracy, Mann said the culprits would not be spared irrespective of their location.
“The guilty will be apprehended and brought back from any corner of the world,” he said.
The development has added a new dimension to the political row surrounding the viral video, with the Chief Minister maintaining that the accusations are baseless and part of an attempt to defame him.
Authorities are expected to carry out further investigations to trace the origin of the video and identify those involved in its circulation.