Majithia slams Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann over video row, demands Akal Takht submission
Synopsis
SAD's Bikram Majithia has cornered Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann for the third time over a sacrilege video, alleging the Chief Minister's explanations have shifted from AI fakery to a look-alike mask — while accusing two named police officers of sourcing fake forensic reports from non-existent labs. The controversy has now drawn in Arvind Kejriwal and, remarkably, an ISI allegation.
Key Takeaways
SAD leader Bikram Majithia on 25 June accused Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann of changing his account of a sacrilege video for the third time.
Mann's stated explanations have shifted from AI-generated footage , to a different person, to someone wearing a mask of his likeness.
Majithia demanded action against police officers Jashandep Singh Gill and Swapan Sharma , alleging they sourced fake forensic reports from laboratories that 'existed only on paper.' The SAD leader called on Arvind Kejriwal to break his silence and clarify AAP 's position on the controversy.
Majithia also demanded a separate probe into alleged attempts to disturb communal harmony in Punjab, reportedly at the behest of Pakistan's ISI .
Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Majithia on Thursday, 25 June accused Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann of repeatedly shifting his account of a controversial video in which Mann is purportedly seen committing sacrilege against the Guru Sahiban and Guru Granth Sahib. Majithia charged that Mann had scored a 'self-goal' by changing his version of events for the third time, alleging the Chief Minister was 'making repeated somersaults and speaking a hundred lies to defend one lie.'
The Shifting Narrative
According to Majithia, Mann's explanations have evolved dramatically since the video surfaced. 'First, Mann said the video was a product of artificial intelligence. When the Akal Takht reports disproved this, the Chief Minister said the person in the video was not him. Now he is claiming that the person in the video is wearing a mask of his likeness,' Majithia told reporters. He added that Mann's stated height discrepancy had also changed — 'Earlier, he said the person was one inch taller than him; today, he claimed the person was two inches taller.'
Allegations Over Forensic Reports
Majithia alleged that instead of referring the video to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) in Chandigarh or any other government-approved facility, Mann allegedly tasked two senior police officers with procuring forensic reports from laboratories that, according to Majithia, 'existed only on paper.' He demanded immediate action against the two officers named — Jashandep Singh Gill and Swapan Sharma — asserting that a case against them would expose what he described as a conspiracy to refute the findings of the Akal Takht Sahib. Majithia further alleged that Gill's father-in-law is a senior functionary of the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), suggesting the officer was deployed for a 'hatchet job.'
Demand for Akal Takht Submission and Kejriwal's Silence
The SAD leader urged Mann to stop 'concocting new stories at every press conference' and instead present himself before the Akal Takht to seek forgiveness. He also called out a new narrative being circulated around a page linked to Mann's alleged old associate, Jagman Samra, calling it a deliberate attempt to construct a fresh conspiracy theory and deflect attention. Majithia demanded that AAP convener Arvind Kejriwal break his silence and publicly clarify his party's position on the matter. He also asked AAP Cabinet ministers who had endorsed the forensic report to explain their stand once the report is proven to be fabricated.
ISI Allegation and Communal Angle
In a sharp escalation, Majithia demanded a separate investigation into what he described as attempts by AAP to 'vitiate the communal atmosphere' in Punjab, allegedly at the behest of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). The allegation, which Majithia did not substantiate with specific evidence at the press conference, adds a national-security dimension to what has so far been framed as a state-level political and religious controversy. An impartial probe, he argued, would also expose the money trail and fix responsibility on the AAP leadership.
Point of View
Contradictory denials rather than a single, verifiable rebuttal. Mann's three shifting explanations — AI, impersonator, masked double — have each collapsed under scrutiny, handing the opposition a ready narrative of evasion. The demand to refer the video to CFSL was straightforward and low-cost; the failure to do so early is now the story. Majithia's ISI allegation, unsubstantiated at the press conference, risks overreach — but it signals that the SAD intends to keep this controversy alive well beyond the religious dimension and into national-security territory, where the political stakes are considerably higher.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Punjab CM sacrilege video controversy?
A video has circulated purportedly showing Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann committing sacrilege against the Guru Sahiban and Guru Granth Sahib. Mann has denied the allegations, but his explanations have changed multiple times, drawing sharp criticism from the Shiromani Akali Dal and the Akal Takht.
How has Bhagwant Mann's account of the video changed?
According to SAD leader Bikram Majithia, Mann first claimed the video was AI-generated, then said the person in it was not him, and most recently alleged the individual was wearing a mask resembling his face. The stated height difference between Mann and the person in the video also reportedly changed from one inch to two inches.
What action has Majithia demanded over the forensic reports?
Majithia has demanded action against two police officers — Jashandep Singh Gill and Swapan Sharma — alleging they procured fake forensic reports from laboratories that did not physically exist. He claims registering a case against them would expose the broader conspiracy to counter the Akal Takht's findings.
Why is Arvind Kejriwal being asked to respond?
As convener of the Aam Aadmi Party, which governs Punjab under Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, Majithia has demanded that Kejriwal publicly clarify his party's position on the video row. Majithia also asked AAP Cabinet ministers who endorsed the forensic report to explain their stand if it is proven fabricated.
What is the ISI allegation Majithia made?
Majithia demanded a separate probe into what he described as AAP's alleged attempts to disturb communal harmony in Punjab, reportedly at the behest of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). He did not present specific evidence for this claim at the press conference.
