Mohali: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has become the target of a smear campaign after a fake video of him surfaced online, allegedly created to damage his reputation. Police investigations have revealed that the accused behind the video is Jagman Samra, a resident of Sangrur, currently living in British Columbia, Canada.
Following a detailed inquiry, the Mohali Cyber Cell registered an FIR against Samra under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act. The case has been filed under Sections 340(2), 353(1) & (2), 351(2), and 336(4) of the BNS.
According to officials, the fake video was uploaded by Samra on Facebook, and it quickly gained traction across social media. Preliminary findings suggest that the accused shared two separate posts, one reading, “This is just a trailer. Anyone who proves it’s AI will get one million dollars.” Police suspect that seven such videos may have been created and circulated from abroad.
Investigators are now examining how the videos were produced and whether artificial intelligence tools were used for manipulation. The posts, uploaded around 14 hours and 9 hours ago, are being analyzed for digital traces to establish their origin and authenticity.
Police have initiated steps to trace the source and collaborators involved in the dissemination of the fake content, terming it a serious cyber offense aimed at misleading the public and defaming a sitting Chief Minister.
