CHANDIGARH: Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday denied being the person seen in a controversial video that has triggered a political row, claiming that the man seen in the objectionable clip was wearing a mask resembling his face, news agency PTI reported.The controversy began after the Akal Takht summoned Mann in January this year over allegations related to his comments on ‘Guru ki Golak’ (gurdwara donation box) and alleged “objectionable activities” involving pictures of Sikh Gurus and slain militant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale in the purported video.Addressing the media in Mohali, Mann showed a video clip that he claimed proved that the person seen in the controversial footage was wearing a mask resembling his face.On January 15, when Mann appeared before the Akal Takht in Amritsar, he had maintained that the video was fake or AI-generated and said the ‘Singh Sahib’ (Sikh clergy) could get it examined by any forensic laboratory in the country.On June 18, Mann again said that he was not in the objectionable video and claimed that some actor was imitating him. He cited reports from two laboratories which, according to him, showed that the person in the alleged video was someone else.Mann also pointed out that a surgical scar on his throat was not visible on the person in the video, saying it proved he was not the person shown in the clip.“Today, I am going to show the biggest truth of this video. Then there would not be anything left to say on it. The ‘Nanak Naam Leva Sangat’ will decide,” Mann said.“I am going to show a video of one person, who was imitating me, was wearing a mask, and this mask is visible. I have a surgical mark on my throat. Those who made this video forgot to show that mark,” Mann said.He claimed the person in the video was wearing sunglasses to hide his eyes.Mann alleged that a Canada-based person, whom he identified as Jagman Samra, brought a mask resembling his face. He showed another video claiming that Samra was holding the mask.“In the video, Samra could be heard saying that a mask can be put on a face. The day he took the delivery of the mask, he made this video,” Mann claimed.“This blackmailer, who is holding this mask in his hand, put it on some other person and made a video,” he alleged.Mann claimed the video was made in a hotel room in Abbotsford, Canada. He said he had not visited Canada since 2016 and questioned how such a video could have been recorded there after 2017-18.“Who installs pictures of Guru Sahib in hotels?” he asked.He also claimed that Samra arranged a mask of AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal and questioned who was behind the alleged video.“Who gave him money to make this video? Who is the producer and director of this video? We will reveal in the coming days,” Mann said.Mann said he would share the video with the Akal Takht for examination.“The man in the video is wearing a mask. How could you call someone wearing a mask Bhagwant Mann?” he said.“I have been saying that I am not in that video as the person seen in the video clip does not match his height and physique,” Mann added.On being asked about Samra, Mann said he had met him once when he was associated with the People’s Party of Punjab.“He is not my friend. I have nothing to do with him. He lives in Abbotsford and he hails from Sangrur,” Mann said.Mann Shares Video on X, Says ‘A Mask Has Unmasked the Opposition’Bhagwant Mann also posted a video on X and wrote:“The wise have said that the house of that Lord is late, not dark…Punjabis, for the past few days, the opposition has pounced on my fake video and played politics… Today, a mask has unmasked the faces of the opposition… I have been saying from the very beginning that I am not in this video… My head has always bowed before Sri Akal Takht Sahib and will continue to bow… My Master and the sensible people of Punjab are with me…Who orchestrated this entire conspiracy? In the coming days, I will make big revelations about this too...Waheguru Ji Ka Khalsa, Sri Waheguru Ji Ki Fateh.”BJP questions ‘changing versions’The Punjab BJP attacked Mann over the controversy and demanded his resignation, alleging that the chief minister had repeatedly changed his explanation about the video.Punjab BJP general secretary Anil Sareen said people of the state no longer had faith in Mann’s statements and questioned whether the forensic reports cited by AAP leaders to call the video fake were genuine.Sareen alleged that Mann’s explanations had changed over time — from the video being called AI-generated and fake to the latest claim involving a “mask theory”.He questioned why the video had not been examined by an accredited independent forensic laboratory for eight months if Mann was confident that it was fake.The BJP leader also alleged that serious questions had been raised over forensic reports obtained from Gurugram and claimed there were allegations of fake reports being prepared with the involvement of Punjab Police officials.Accusing the Mann government of misusing power and attempting to conceal the truth, Sareen said the chief minister should take moral responsibility and resign.The controversy intensified after the Akal Takht issued an edict against Mann on June 15. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj claimed that the video was found “authentic” by two forensic laboratories and was neither edited nor AI-generated.Mann, however, continues to maintain that he was not present in the video and that the person seen in the clip was wearing a mask resembling his face.Mann’s statement came two days after the Gurugram Police arrested two men on a complaint regarding the alleged procurement of a fabricated forensic report related to the viral video linked to the controversy involving Mann.
