Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Cheema has claimed that two independent, government-recognised laboratories have found that videos allegedly circulated by the Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) to defame Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann are "fake." However, he refused to disclose the names of the laboratories.
Minister says labs confirm videos are fake
According to The Tribune, Cheema stated that the reports from the labs establish that the videos were created by impersonating Mann with the alleged intent to malign his image. The minister said both institutions, located outside Punjab, had debunked the SAD's allegations through a frame-by-frame technical analysis of the videos.
CM maintains AI involvement
Bhagwant Mann has consistently maintained that the video in question was generated using artificial intelligence. Addressing a press conference in Mohali, Cheema alleged that the SAD was targeting Mann through these videos.
"The reports establish that the videos were created by impersonating Mann with the alleged intent to malign his image." — Harpal Cheema, as reported by The Tribune
Minister refuses to name labs
Despite making the claim, Cheema declined to reveal the identity of the laboratories. This has raised questions about the transparency of the verification process. The minister did not provide any reason for withholding the names of the labs.
Our Take: Transparency matters in such claims
In our view, while the minister's claim is significant, the refusal to name the laboratories weakens the credibility of the assertion. If the government wants to fully counter the opposition's allegations, it should provide all evidence openly. Without naming the labs, the public cannot independently verify the findings. This approach may fuel further speculation rather than settle the matter.