Punjab CM ‘deepfake’ row: As Bhagwant Mann maintains silence, BJP asks him if he knows Canada-based accused

On October 21, the cybercrime wing of the Punjab Police’s Mohali unit registered an FIR against Samra for posting “AI-generated vulgar content” of the Punjab CM. A Mohali court subsequently ordered platforms such as Facebook and Google to remove or block all such content within 24 hours. (https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/remove-ai-deepfake-video-punjab-cm-mohali-court-youtube-telegram-instagram-10325882/)

Even after the FIR was registered, Samra allegedly uploaded five more posts from two separate accounts. In one of the posts, he challenged authorities by writing, “This is just the trailer. Anyone who proves this video is AI-generated will get a $1 million reward.”

Samra, originally from the Phaguwala village in the Sangrur district, escaped judicial custody in February 2022 while being treated in a hospital in Faridkot. He was an undertrial in a cheating case registered in 2020.

Mann’s silence

Though CM Mann has not made any public statement on the matter, during a function, when the media probed him on the issue, he said, “The BJP has nothing but fakeness.”

During a press conference at his residence on Tuesday, he was asked about the videos. He stood up, signalling that he would not speak, and then left the conference room.

While AAP senior spokesperson Neel Garg and another spokesperson, Baltej Pannu, maintained that videos were AI-generated, BJP state media head Vineet Joshi asked, “If the video is fake, then why is the chief minister silent?”

The BJP also demanded a public clarification on whether Mann knew the accused and whether he had arranged tours.

BJP state working president Ashwani Sharma wrote on X, demanding a forensic examination.

Character assassination by BJP, says AAP

AAP MP and spokesperson Malvinder Singh Kang accused the BJP of trying to defame the CM through the distribution of a video allegedly created using AI.

“The video was made with the sole intention of defaming our chief minister and conducting character assassination,” he said.

He added, “Many of these accounts, some even followed by senior BJP leaders, repeatedly promote such propaganda whenever the party wants to defame or destroy someone’s character. A teacher’s son (Mann) is leading the state effectively. If the BJP cannot finish him politically, it has now resorted to indulging in his character assassination by making his fake video viral on social media. That is BJP’s politics,” he added.

Kang also asserted that while everyone has the right to express their opinions in politics, creating AI-driven fake videos to defame an elected chief minister crosses an unacceptable line.

“Punjab’s people will answer this conspiracy in due time. We condemn this plot by the BJP. Our party will take stringent legal action,” he warned.

The BJP hit back, accusing AAP leaders of making “absurd, irrational, and baseless” statements, and added that the ruling party’s “defensive posture” reflected panic within the party.

“The AAP is in a panic,” said Joshi, adding that all that BJP working president Ashwani Sharma did was pose a question on X, which read, “The man who used to hold press conferences over every small issue is now silent on his alleged video? Punjab deserves an answer, Bhagwant Sahib, please clarify.”

Meanwhile, Congress MLA Sukhpal Singh Khaira demanded an independent forensic verification of the video by a credible lab outside Punjab, saying the silence and lack of transparency were damaging both the CM’s image and Punjab’s honour.

Swati Maliwal writes to Arvind Kejriwal

Former AAP leader Swati Maliwal wrote a letter to the party’s national convener, Arvind Kejriwal, asking for an independent investigation into the viral clips. In her letter, she stated that the NRI has been claiming that he has videos in which Mann is disrespecting Sikh Gurus. She said if the videos are genuine, strict action must follow.

She further said that if they are AI-generated, then those responsible must be held accountable. She accused the CM of having a reputation for holding official meetings while under the influence of alcohol, and said the controversy is damaging both the party’s image and the public’s trust.

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