Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said fabricated and edited videos are being circulated to target him politically and defame his reputation [1, 2].
The allegations highlight the growing role of digital misinformation in regional Indian politics. As deepfakes and edited media become more accessible, the ability to impersonate public officials can disrupt governance and sway public perception during political disputes.
Mann said that the individual appearing in a recently viral video is not him [2]. He said the footage is a deliberate attempt to create a false narrative about his conduct and identity [1, 3].
According to Mann, opposition parties have collaborated to orchestrate this misinformation campaign [2]. He said these parties have joined hands to tarnish his image because they are unable to challenge the actual work and performance of his government [1, 2].
"Fake videos are being used to target me," Mann said [1].
He said the strategy is intended to divert public attention away from critical issues facing the state [1, 2]. By focusing on fabricated content, the chief minister said the opposition avoids engaging in substantive policy debates.
"The person seen in the viral video is not me; it is an attempt to defame me," Mann said [2].
Mann said the use of such tools represents a shift toward deceptive tactics in political rivalry [2]. "Opposition parties have joined hands to tarnish my image through misinformation," Mann said [2].
“"Fake videos are being used to target me,"”
This incident underscores the increasing vulnerability of political leaders to synthetic media and targeted disinformation campaigns. By attributing the videos to opposition parties, Mann is framing the issue as a political conspiracy rather than a random digital prank, signaling a potential escalation in the use of forensic verification to combat political 'deepfakes' in Punjab.
