Punjab CM Mann denies being in viral sacrilege video, claims impostor
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday rejected claims that he was involved in a sacrilege incident captured in a viral video, asserting that the person seen in the footage is an impostor wearing a mask resembling his face.
The video, which has been widely circulated on social media, purportedly shows a man resembling Mann desecrating a religious scripture. Mann, however, maintained that he was not present at the location during the time of the incident and that the video has been doctored.
“An impostor wearing my mask is trying to frame me. I have never been to that place. The video is fake and created with malicious intent,” Mann said in a statement released by his office.
The Chief Minister’s denial comes amid heightened tensions in Punjab, where sacrilege incidents have historically led to communal unrest. Opposition parties have demanded a thorough investigation into the matter.
Mann has urged his supporters not to circulate the video and called on law enforcement agencies to identify and apprehend those responsible for creating and spreading the misleading footage.
Punjab Police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code regarding the circulation of the video. An investigation is underway to verify the authenticity of the footage and trace its origin.
Political analysts note that the incident could become a flashpoint in the already charged political climate of the state, with the ruling Aam Aadmi Party facing scrutiny over law and order issues.
The Chief Minister’s office has also released a timeline of his public engagements on the day of the alleged incident, claiming they prove his absence from the scene. Independent verification of these claims is pending.
