Senior Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia has raised serious allegations of corruption and expressed concern over the safety of a private forensic expert involved in the controversy surrounding a purported blasphemy video featuring Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann. Majithia claimed that the forensic expert received Rs 10 lakh to facilitate a fake forensic report, which purportedly authenticated the video. He further warned that the expert's life is now in danger after his role in arranging the report came to light.
Allegations of Corruption and Fake Report
Speaking to the media, Majithia stated that the forensic expert had been paid Rs 10 lakh to produce a fraudulent report. He alleged that a meeting between the expert and two police officers took place at a hotel in Amritsar. Both officers have denied the allegations, calling them "baseless." However, Majithia insisted on the veracity of his claims, saying, "I am stating all this with full responsibility. The meeting was held in the morning and I have a video of it. The most concerning part is that the money which was delivered to the forensic expert was kept in a government vehicle."
Background of the Blasphemy Video Controversy
The row erupted after the Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of Sikhism, declared CM Mann a "Guru-Dokhi" (anti-Guru) and "Khalsa Panth Virodhi" (opposed to the Khalsa Panth) based on a video that allegedly showed him committing a blasphemous act. Forensic reports commissioned by the Takht concluded that the video was authentic and not AI-generated. In response, CM Mann has maintained that the person in the video is not him.
Political Reactions and Denials
Majithia's allegations have intensified the political debate in Punjab. The two police officers named by Majithia have rejected the claims, but the SAD leader remains firm. He has called for a thorough investigation into the matter, emphasizing the safety concerns for the forensic expert. The controversy continues to unfold, with both sides presenting conflicting narratives.
