Punjab Police have registered a criminal case after investigators confirmed the circulation of a manipulated and misleading video targeting former Delhi Chief Minister and current Leader of Opposition Atishi.
The case marks a sharp escalation in a political controversy that blended digital misinformation, religious sensitivity, and partisan confrontation.
A spokesperson of the Jalandhar Police Commissionerate said authorities lodged the FIR following a formal complaint by Delhi Mayor Raja Iqbal Singh.
The complaint alleged that unidentified individuals uploaded and circulated an edited video clip falsely portraying Atishi as making derogatory and blasphemous remarks against Sikh Gurus, accompanied by provocative captions designed to inflame public sentiment.
According to police officials, several social media posts carried a short clip that appeared to show Atishi using objectionable language during a Delhi Assembly session.
The posts quickly gained traction online, triggering outrage and political backlash. However, investigators initiated a scientific probe to verify the authenticity of the video before concluding.
The Jalandhar Police confirmed that the video clip containing Atishi’s audio originated from a social media post shared by Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra.
Authorities downloaded the original clip and sent it to the Forensic Science Laboratory in Mohali for detailed audio and video analysis. The forensic report, dated January 9, delivered a decisive finding.
Politics, Forensics, Faith, Controversy & Law
Investigators concluded that Atishi never uttered the word ‘Guru’ in the audio track circulated online. The report further established that the video had been deliberately altered, with misleading captions attributing statements that were never spoken.
Police officials described the manipulation as intentional and aimed at provoking communal discord.
Despite the forensic findings, the controversy spilt into the political arena. Bharatiya Janata Party MLAs staged protests inside the Delhi Assembly, accusing the Aam Aadmi Party leader of using insensitive language against Sikh Gurus.
Slogans echoed through the House, intensifying the standoff between rival parties.
Delhi Minister Parvesh Verma told reporters that the Assembly had convened a special discussion to commemorate the 354th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
He alleged that Atishi failed to participate constructively and hurt religious sentiments during the proceedings. Verma criticised her absence from subsequent sessions and said she had not issued an apology.
Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra also condemned Atishi’s conduct, calling it ‘extremely shameful,’ even as forensic evidence contradicted the claims circulating online.
Police officials stressed that the case highlights the growing danger of digitally altered content in political discourse.
They reiterated that the investigation will focus on identifying those responsible for creating and amplifying the doctored video.
The FIR underscores a broader political and legal message: misinformation that exploits faith and public emotion will face firm scrutiny under the law.
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