Akal Takht slams media blackout over Bhagwant Mann video FIR
Synopsis
The Akal Takht has done something rare: it has formally written to Punjab's press clubs accusing regional media of blacking out coverage of the Gurugram FIR in the Bhagwant Mann video case. With two arrests already made and a forensic expert alleging a bribery attempt to falsify evidence, the institution is framing media silence not as editorial caution but as a democratic failure.
Key Takeaways
The Akal Takht issued a formal letter to Press Clubs of Chandigarh, Jalandhar, and Amritsar condemning alleged media suppression of the Bhagwant Mann video case.
The Akal Takht had earlier declared Mann 'guru dokhi' and 'Khalsa panth Virodhi' — an unprecedented step against a sitting chief minister.
Gurugram Police registered an FIR and Haryana Police arrested two individuals after a forensic expert alleged he was offered money to fabricate a favourable report on the video.
The disputed video purportedly shows a man resembling Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in objectionable circumstances alongside images of Sikh Gurus and Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale .
The Akal Takht described the media as the 'fourth pillar of democracy' and warned it was 'not fulfilling its responsibility properly' by ignoring the issue.
The Akal Takht, the apex temporal authority of the Sikh faith, has formally condemned what it described as a deliberate media blackout surrounding the Gurugram Police FIR in the controversial video case linked to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The rebuke, issued through a formal letter to press clubs and journalist unions, comes amid mounting concern that regional and Punjabi-language media houses have suppressed coverage of a matter the institution considers of grave public importance.
Background: What the Video Case Involves
A widely circulated video purportedly shows a man resembling Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann engaged in objectionable conduct, with images of Sikh Gurus and slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale visible in the footage. The video triggered significant outrage within the Sikh community and prompted the Akal Takht to take the unprecedented step of declaring Mann 'guru dokhi' (one who betrays the Guru) and 'Khalsa panth Virodhi' (anti-Khalsa panth) earlier this month.
The Gurugram Arrests and FIR
In a significant legal development on Tuesday, Haryana Police arrested two individuals following a complaint filed by a forensic expert who alleged he was offered money to fabricate a favourable forensic report on the disputed video. The FIR, registered by Gurugram Police, marked a notable escalation in the case. However, according to the Akal Takht's letter, several media organisations — particularly Punjabi print and digital platforms — remained conspicuously silent on both the arrests and the institution's official position.
Akal Takht's Formal Rebuke to the Media
The Akal Takht addressed its formal letter to the Press Clubs of Chandigarh, Jalandhar, and Amritsar, as well as various journalist unions across Punjab. The letter underlined that the Secretariat of the Akal Takht promptly disseminates its official decisions and reactions on all matters concerning the Sikh community, and that an official statement on the video issue had been released on Tuesday.
'Regrettably, a large section of the media has not published the official side of the Secretariat of Akal Takht Sahib on this serious matter,' the letter stated. It further invoked the media's constitutional standing, describing it as the 'fourth pillar of democracy' with a sacred duty to report significant public events without fear or favour. 'If the media does not publish pro-people news under any pressure, it is not fulfilling its responsibility properly,' the letter added.
Wider Significance
This is the first time in recent memory that the Akal Takht has formally written to press bodies accusing them of suppressing coverage of an issue directly involving a sitting state chief minister. The move signals that the institution views the alleged media silence not merely as an editorial lapse but as a failure of democratic accountability. Notably, the case intersects sensitive religious imagery, political authority, and questions of forensic integrity — a combination that critics argue makes transparent reporting all the more essential.
As the forensic investigation and legal proceedings continue, the Akal Takht's intervention is expected to keep pressure on both the media and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab. The outcome of the Gurugram Police investigation and any further forensic findings will be closely watched by Sikh organisations and political observers alike.
Point of View
It is a matter of criminal record. If regional Punjabi media did in fact suppress both the arrests and the Akal Takht's official position, the question of why demands scrutiny — political pressure, advertiser sensitivity, or editorial timidity are all possibilities that mainstream coverage has so far left unexamined. The AAP government in Punjab has not publicly responded to the Akal Takht's declaration or the FIR, and that silence is as telling as the media's.
NationPress
25 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Akal Takht's objection regarding the Bhagwant Mann video case?
The Akal Takht has formally accused Punjabi and regional media of blacking out coverage of the Gurugram Police FIR and related arrests in the controversial video case involving Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. In a letter to press clubs in Chandigarh, Jalandhar, and Amritsar, the institution said a large section of the media had not published its official position on the matter.
What is the video case involving Bhagwant Mann?
A widely circulated video purportedly shows a man resembling Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann engaged in objectionable conduct alongside images of Sikh Gurus and slain militant leader Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale. The video prompted the Akal Takht to declare Mann 'guru dokhi' and 'Khalsa panth Virodhi' — an unprecedented move against a sitting chief minister.
What action did Haryana Police take in the case?
Haryana Police arrested two individuals after a forensic expert filed a complaint alleging he was offered money to fabricate a favourable forensic report on the disputed video. The FIR was registered by Gurugram Police, marking a significant legal escalation in the case.
Why did the Akal Takht write to press clubs and journalist unions?
The Akal Takht wrote to press clubs in Chandigarh, Jalandhar, and Amritsar, as well as journalist unions, because it believed its official statement on the video case — released on Tuesday — was deliberately ignored by much of the media. It invoked the media's role as the 'fourth pillar of democracy' and warned that suppressing public-interest news amounted to a failure of professional responsibility.
What has the AAP government said in response?
As of the time of reporting, the Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab had not publicly responded to either the Akal Takht's 'guru dokhi' declaration or the Gurugram Police FIR. The case remains under active investigation.
