Bhagwant Mann Exposes Shocking Viral Video As Fake Mask Conspiracy; Kejriwal Lashes Out Hard

Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal has backed Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann after Mann rejected a viral video targeting him as fake and politically motivated. The controversy has added a sharp new edge to Punjab’s political climate, with the Chief Minister alleging that the clip was created using a mask to damage his public image and religious standing.

Kejriwal said the “truth” about the alleged fake video had come out and accused rival parties of stooping to a new low. He claimed that the video against Mann was made by using a mask, and said Punjab’s people would not forgive those behind what he described as a “cheap act”. His remarks came after Mann addressed a press conference in Chandigarh and directly challenged the authenticity of the clip.

Bhagwant Mann calls viral video a political and religious conspiracy

Mann said the video had been circulated over the past few days on social media and other platforms with the intention of causing political harm. He also alleged that the attempt was aimed at presenting him in a negative religious light. The Chief Minister maintained that the person seen in the video was not him and said he was ready to face any inquiry.

The Chief Minister framed the episode as more than a routine political attack. According to him, rival parties were unable to confront his government on issues of governance and public support. He alleged that this had pushed them towards what he called narrow religious tactics. Mann said such methods were being used to mislead people and create distrust.

In his response, Kejriwal used strong political language against AAP’s opponents. Without naming individual leaders in that specific remark, he referred to rival groups as the “ED party”, “chitta party” and “jhagda party”. He said they would now find it difficult to face people in Punjab. The comments show how AAP is seeking to turn the video row into a broader political issue.

Chief Minister cites physical mark to question video’s authenticity

At the press conference, Mann pointed to what he described as physical and technical evidence to dispute the video. He said he had undergone a major throat operation when he was five years old. Because of that surgery, he said, a visible cut mark remains on the left side of his neck even today.

Mann argued that the person seen in the viral video did not have that mark. He presented this as a key reason to reject the clip’s authenticity. The Chief Minister said the absence of the scar raised serious doubts about whether the person in the video could be him. He added that such visible identifiers could not be ignored.

He also referred to a social media analysis and claimed that the person in the video was wearing a silicone mask made to resemble him. Mann said the use of spectacles in the clip was deliberate. According to him, glasses helped hide artificial facial movement because a person wearing such a mask may not blink naturally and expressions may appear stiff.

The Chief Minister further alleged that the person who made the mask had earlier prepared a fake mask of Arvind Kejriwal. He said this showed how such methods could be misused to confuse voters and malign public figures. These allegations have not been independently verified, but Mann insisted that the video was fabricated.

SGPC and opposition parties come under attack

Mann also questioned the role of the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee in the controversy. He alleged that posters against him were being put up outside several gurdwaras at the SGPC’s behest. He asked why no similar campaign was visible against Shiromani Akali Dal president Sukhbir Singh Badal, who, according to Mann, had admitted mistakes before the Akal Takht.

The Chief Minister accused Congress, the Bharatiya Janata Party and the Akali Dal of working together against him from behind the scenes. He said these parties were alarmed by the public response to AAP’s political programmes. Mann also attacked Congress and the Akalis over historical and religious issues, accusing them of hypocrisy while speaking on religious purity.

The controversy is politically sensitive because Punjab’s public discourse often carries a strong religious dimension. Any allegation involving a public figure’s conduct can quickly move beyond party politics. That is why Mann’s decision to address the video personally, and Kejriwal’s immediate support, indicate that AAP wants to contain the issue before it gains wider traction.

The episode also highlights a growing challenge for political communication in India: the use of manipulated visuals and unverified clips. Public figures are increasingly forced to respond to viral content before its origin is formally established. In such cases, the damage can begin before any forensic examination or official investigation reaches a conclusion.

For now, Mann has categorically denied that he appears in the video and has offered to cooperate with any probe. Kejriwal has turned the allegation into a political attack on AAP’s rivals. The next step will depend on whether any formal complaint, forensic examination or official inquiry is initiated to establish how the clip was created and circulated.