Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Thursday alleged that an impostor wearing a mask resembling his face appeared in a video, and urged the police to investigate the matter. The video, which surfaced on social media, shows a person with a mask that closely mimics Mann's facial features.
CM's Statement on the Incident
In a statement, Mann said, "Someone has made a mask resembling my face and is using it to spread misinformation. I have asked the police to take strict action and find the culprits." The CM emphasized that such acts could create confusion and harm public trust.
Police Response and Investigation
Punjab Police have registered a case and launched an investigation. A senior officer said, "We are examining the video and tracking its origin. The use of such masks is a serious offense." The police have also warned against sharing the video without verification.
Context of Misinformation
The incident comes amid growing concerns over deepfakes and impersonation in political circles. Experts note that masks and AI-generated videos are increasingly used to spread false narratives. According to a 2025 report by the Cyber Peace Foundation, India saw a 40% rise in deepfake-related incidents in the past year.
Mann's office has urged the public to rely only on official communication channels for authentic information. The CM also called for stricter laws to penalize those creating and disseminating such deceptive content.
