Mohali | Updated: June 25, 2026
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday again denied his involvement in the alleged sacrilege video and claimed that the clip was part of a “malicious attempt” by opposition parties to defame him and his government.
Addressing a press conference in Mohali, Mann said that the person seen in the purported video was not him. He claimed that the actor in the video was wearing a prosthetic mask and sunglasses to hide his real identity.
Earlier, Mann had described the video as AI-generated. However, in his latest statement, he alleged that a prosthetic mask — a wearable makeup appliance made of foam latex or silicone — was used to create a lookalike.
Playing the video during the press conference, Mann said the person seen in the clip did not match his physical features. He claimed that the scar on his throat was missing in the video and that sunglasses were deliberately used to hide the actor’s eyes.
The Punjab Chief Minister alleged that the conspiracy was carried out by Jagman Samra, whom he described as a “blackmailer” based in Abbotsford, Canada. Mann claimed that Samra got the prosthetic mask prepared and shot the viral video in Canada.
He further alleged that Samra had also made a mask of AAP national convener Arvind Kejriwal. Mann said a joint forum of opposition parties was behind the targeted attack and that more details would come out in the coming days.
Mann said he would submit the facts and video evidence before the Akal Takht and the police so that action could be taken against those responsible.
Responding to a question on whether Samra was his friend, Mann said Samra was not his friend and had met him only once. He added that he had not visited Canada after 2016, while the opposition was claiming that the video was from 2018-19.
The Chief Minister also said that he respected the Akal Takht and was a humble Sikh. He accused political opponents of using the controversy to target him and questioned why similar boycott boards were not put up against Sukhbir Singh Badal when he was declared a “tankhayyia.”
A political row had erupted after the alleged objectionable video surfaced. On June 15, the Akal Takht issued an edict against Mann. Since then, the Akal Takht and the Aam Aadmi Party have presented conflicting forensic reports related to the video.
Meanwhile, Gurugram Police have arrested two suspects after a complaint by a forensic expert in connection with the viral video. The FIR alleges that employees of two private forensic facilities were pressured to prepare a predetermined “clean chit” report in favor of the Punjab Chief Minister.
The controversy continues to remain a major political issue in Punjab, with both AAP and opposition parties trading charges over the authenticity of the video.
