Chandigarh: The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday stepped up its defence of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in the controversy surrounding a purported viral video, presenting findings from two independent forensic reports that it claims rule out Mann’s presence in the footage.
Addressing a press conference, Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and AAP spokesperson Baltej Pannu said the reports were prepared by two government-recognised laboratories located outside Punjab.
According to the party, the analysis examined 1,191 distinct body markers and characteristics, including facial structure, height, body build and walking style. AAP leaders claimed the findings concluded that the individual seen in the video was not Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann.
The party further alleged that an actor had been used to create the video and insisted that the footage did not feature the Punjab chief minister.
AAP leaders said the party would also meet Punjab Director General of Police (DGP) later in the day regarding the matter.
The controversy has triggered a political storm in Punjab, with opposition parties targeting the state government over the video, while AAP has consistently maintained that the person shown in the footage is not Bhagwant Mann.
