A case has been registered against the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) after senior Congress leader Partap Singh Bajwa accused the ruling party of circulating a doctored video that misrepresented his statements. The FIR was filed based on Bajwa’s complaint and includes charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 336(4) (forgery), 356 (defamation), and 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), officials confirmed on Friday.
In his complaint, Bajwa alleged that the AAP’s official social media handles edited and circulated a video originally posted by him on June 25, thereby distorting its content and maligning his public image. The original 3-minute and 48 second video, posted on platform X, criticized the actions of the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in a case involving Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia.
The Punjab congress leader highlighted that he was condemning the conduct of vigilance officials who allegedly entered the private quarters, including the bedroom, of Majithia’s wife, Ganieve Kaur, a sitting Punjab MLA, during the investigation. He said the intrusion was unlawful and disrespectful toward a woman legislator.
However, Bajwa claimed that AAP officials removed all references to Ganieve Kaur and her position in the edited version of the video, which was then shared across AAP’s official social media platforms. The alteration, he alleged, created a misleading narrative suggesting that he was defending Majithia, who is currently under investigation for disproportionate assets.
He specifically named Punjab Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema and Minister Aman Arora, alleging that they shared the manipulated video on Facebook via their official pages, further amplifying the misrepresentation.
“This doctored video was intentionally circulated to damage my political reputation and that of the Congress Party,” Bajwa said in his complaint. “The fabricated content implied I was siding with individuals facing prosecution, overshadowing the serious issue I raised about the conduct of the vigilance bureau.”
Calling the act a gross violation of democratic principles and free speech, and has demanded immediate legal action against those responsible for the manipulation and circulation of the video.
“Democracy allows freedom of speech but not the distortion of facts to mislead the public and harm an individual’s reputation. I urge authorities to initiate prompt legal proceedings against the persons involved,” he stated.
The case is under investigation, and further action will follow based on findings, officials said.
