Punjab Opposition Demands Bhagwant Mann Resignation Over Sacrilege Video

Opposition parties in Punjab have escalated demands for Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s immediate resignation following a escalating controversy over a viral video depicting alleged sacrilege and the subsequent arrest of two individuals in Gurugram for fabricating cyber-forensic clearing reports.

Chandigarh (Punjab) , June 24 (ANI): Punjab Congress chief Amrinder Singh Raja Warring on Wednesday demanded the resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, accusing him of hurting religious sentiments and said he should apologise to the people of the state over a purported video allegedly showing him desecrating photos of Sikh Gurus.

“The Chief Minister should resign and apologise to the people of Punjab,” Warring told reporters.

Warring also raised questions over a meeting allegedly held in Gurugram and alleged that an attempt was made for a “manipulated report”.

Gurugram Police on Tuesday apprehended two accused for allegedly fabricating the forensic report in the viral video case allegedly linked to Mann, Gurugram Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Crime, Naveen Sharma said.

According to the police officials, the accused allegedly received Rs 10 lakh from Punjab officials for allegedly fabricating the video.

ACP Naveen Sharma told the reporters on Tuesday that Gurgaon Police received a complaint.

“We have taken two individuals into custody; an interrogation is currently underway. One suspect has been identified as Ankit, a cyber-expert working with the NIA on a contract basis; the other individual is named Arun. The complaint pertains to a viral video that they had fraudulently created and circulated. They did not operate out of any government-recognised laboratory. They fabricated a video featuring the Chief Minister of our neighbouring state. We have detained them for this act, and the investigation is ongoing,” he said.

“They stated that they were given Rs 10 lakh for this task, and indicated that certain officials from the neighbouring state were also involved. Whatever further details emerge from the ongoing investigation will be discussed and verified with a forensic expert,” he added.

The probe into the case is underway. Akal Takht had summoned Bhagwant Mann over the viral video and has directed the Sikh community to shun ties with Mann over the controversy surrounding the video.

The developments have severely mounted pressure on the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) as political factions mobilize ahead of the state assembly elections scheduled for early 2027. Demands for an independent investigation intensified as Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Maheshinder Singh Grewal insisted that only an administrative handover to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) could untangle the multi-state money trail. Concurrently, senior BJP leader Sunil Jakhar criticized Mann for openly confronting the authority of the supreme Sri Akal Takht Sahib.

Responding to the allegations, Mann said “false videos” are being spread against him.

“A few days ago, a fake video was circulated claiming it was me. That video was made viral to frame me. We later had it checked in a forensic lab, and now even the lab owners are being attacked by the BJP, because the SAD, BJP and Congress have joined hands in Punjab. This whole issue is being twisted. False videos are spread against me on social media, but they cannot break me down. I will continue working for the people,” Mann said.

In another video message posted on X, the Chief Minister maintained that the video was not genuine.

“For the past few days, my fake videos were released amid dirty politics. When they don’t find another way, they try to defame me using religion. Neither my shape nor my size matches the person in the video, nor my way of standing. They are calling me guilty for making the video viral. However, the people saw the video and received several calls stating that the video is false. We also got it tested in the forensic labs,” Mann said.

Congress MP Charanjit Singh Channi also attacked the Punjab Chief Minister.

“The CM should resign, a case should be registered against him and he should be arrested,” Channi said. (ANI)

Fake video: Mann

A fake video had been deliberately created and circulated to defame him after his political opponents failed to challenge the work done by his government for the people of Punjab, Mr. Mann said in a reaction to the controversy. The Opposition was misleading people in the name of religion and resorting to petty politics, he said, adding, “Those who have no issue left against my government are now trying to tarnish my image through fabricated propaganda.”

The Punjab government had the video examined by forensics laboratories, he said, however, “Those who own and operate that laboratory are being targeted because the BJP, Akali Dal and Congress have united against me,” Mr. Mann alleged.

He also questioned the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee(SGPC), the religious body overseeing the administration of historical gurdwaras. “Politics has fallen to a very low level because they have no other way to oppose me. They continuously try to defame me through one accusation or another. Now the SGPC has ordered the putting up of posters outside Gurdwara Sahibs calling for my boycott. Why were similar posters not put up against the Akali Dal (SAD) or Sukhbir Singh Badal (SAD president) after they admitted responsibility for incidents of sacrilege?” he said.

Leader of the Opposition Partap Singh Bajwa joined the offensive from Amritsar, asserting that Mann had forfeited his moral authority to govern. Bajwa announced a total legislative boycott of the Chief Minister by the Congress party and targeted AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal for selecting a leader who failed to represent traditional Sikh principles.

Controversial video

In October 2025, a video of a person resembling Mr. Mann was released on social media platforms, which allegedly showed him sprinkling alcohol on images of Sikh gurus. Following this, the Punjab Police registered an FIR. In January 2026, the Akal Takht summoned Mr. Mann regarding the allegations. Mr. Mann said the person in the video was not him.

On June 15, 2026, the Sikh clergy at Akal Takht declared Mr. Mann ‘Guru Dokhi’ (a betrayer of the Guru) and ‘Khalsa Panth Virodhi’ (opponent of the Sikh Khalsa Panth), alleging he had made false statements in connection with the objectionable video. Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, pronouncing the edict, said the video had been confirmed as authentic by two forensic laboratories.

On June 18, the AAP said forensic tests by two independent laboratories had found no match between the person in the video and Mr. Mann.

History of the Sacrilege Dispute

The escalating standoff between the ruling Aam Aadmi Party and Punjab’s traditional political-religious infrastructure traces back to October 2025 when the initial video surfaced. The controversy marks a major shift in state dynamics under the new, stricter sacrilege legislation. The conflict intensified significantly after January 2026 when Chief Minister Mann bypassed a formal summons from the Akal Takht. The highest temporal seat subsequently took the rare step of declaring a sitting Chief Minister an opponent of the Sikh Panth, altering the political environment as political factions gear up for the 2027 assembly elections.

FAQs

Why is the Punjab Opposition demanding Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s resignation?

The Opposition demands his resignation over a viral video from October 2025 that allegedly depicts him desecrating images of Sikh Gurus by sprinkling alcohol on them, an action violating religious sentiments and the state’s sacrilege law.

What did the Gurugram Police discover regarding the forensic reports?

Gurugram Police arrested two men, including a contractual cyber expert for the NIA, who allegedly accepted a bribe of Rs 10 lakh from neighboring state officials to fabricate cyber and forensic analysis reports linked to the video case.

How has the Akal Takht responded to the video controversy?

The Akal Takht authenticated the video via two independent laboratories, summoned Bhagwant Mann, and subsequently declared him ‘Guru Dokhi’ and ‘Khalsa Panth Virodhi’ on June 15, 2026, ordering a community boycott against him.

What is Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s defense against the allegations?

Chief Minister Mann asserts that the video is completely fake, noting his physical stature and posture do not match the individual filmed. He claims the Congress, SAD, and BJP have united to politically defame his administration ahead of the elections.