Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann is facing mounting political and religious pressure after the Akal Takht declared him “anti-Guru” and asked the Sikh community to distance itself from him, intensifying a major controversy ahead of next year’s Punjab Assembly elections.
The decision by the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, came after a meeting of the five Singh Sahibs, or high priests. Akal Takht Jathedar Kuldeep Singh Gargaj announced the verdict on Monday, saying Mann had failed to support his earlier claim that a controversial video linked to him was AI-generated.
The ruling has placed the Aam Aadmi Party leader at the centre of a serious religious dispute, while opposition leaders have moved quickly to turn the Akal Takht’s decision into a political flashpoint.
Congress Demands Bhagwant Mann’s Resignation
Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh Raja Warring said Mann should step down immediately after the Akal Takht’s verdict.
“Following the forensic investigation of the alleged video by Sri Akal Takht Sahib, Bhagwant Mann has been declared a ‘tankhaiya’ (found guilty of religious misconduct) and the Sikh ‘sangat’ has been asked to stay away from him. After such a serious decision, Bhagwant Mann has lost his moral right. Respecting the supreme authority of Akal Takht Sahib and Sikh sentiments, Bhagwant Mann should immediately resign from the post of chief minister,” he wrote on X.
The Akal Takht’s decision stems from Mann’s January 15 appearance before the Sikh authority over alleged objectionable remarks about Sikh devotees and a video in which a person resembling him was seen sprinkling alcohol on images of Sikh gurus.
Mann denied the allegation and said the video was AI-generated. On Monday, Gargaj said forensic tests by two laboratories recognized by the Government of India found the video was neither fake nor AI-generated. The AAP responded by saying the tests did not determine whether the person in the video was Mann.
Akal Takht Says Video Was Not AI-Generated
“We questioned the chief minister regarding the video and he claimed it was AI-generated. We asked him to give us proof of this but received no response for six months. We then had the video examined by two laboratories recognised by the Government of India, which revealed that the video is neither fake nor AI-generated. Today, the ‘panth’ took action and reached a decision on this matter,” Gargaj said.
The Jathedar said Mann had lied while appearing before the Akal Takht and had been declared guilty before the Guru, or “anti-Guru.”
“Sikhs have no expectations from the chief minister, and the ‘panth’ and followers of the Guru should have nothing to do with him,” he added.
Punjab Cabinet Summoned On June 29
In a separate decision, the Akal Takht summoned the entire Punjab cabinet to appear before it on June 29 over the passage of the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Bill, 2026.
The bill prescribes punishment of up to life imprisonment for acts of sacrilege against the Sikh holy book. Gargaj said the Punjab government passed the law without consulting the Sikh community, Sikh institutions or the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee.
“It is intolerable for anyone to challenge the Guru’s throne. Recently, the Punjab government introduced an Act without consulting the Sikh community, institutions, or the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC). Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s government acted obstinately, securing approval from the Legislative Assembly and the Governor. This law will cause a rift within the ‘panth’. The government has no authority to enact legislation concerning the ‘panth’,” Gargaj said.
