Atishi video row: Speaker Gupta says no tampering; BJP, AAP clash
Opposition leaders want Kapil Mishra jailed for sharing ‘doctored’ footage
Political confrontation between the BJP-led Delhi Government and the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) deepened on Saturday after Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta said a forensic examination ordered by the House had found no tampering in the video clip linked to alleged remarks made by Leader of Opposition Atishi on Sikh gurus.
The Speaker’s assertion was strongly contested by AAP leaders, who accused the BJP of misrepresenting the findings and escalating the issue for political gains.
Addressing a press conference, Speaker Vijender Gupta said the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report, sent for examination on January 8 at the demand of the Opposition AAP, had categorically established that the audio-video recording of the Assembly proceedings was original and not tampered with.
“The report clearly states that the verbatim record matches the audio-video frame by frame and it is completely original,” Gupta said, displaying the report before the media.
He recalled that the issue was raised on the floor of the House following objections from the Opposition, after which the Assembly unanimously decided to send the recordings for forensic examination.
According to Gupta, the FSL conducted a detailed scientific analysis in accordance with established legal procedures and found no indication of manipulation, alteration or distortion.
The Speaker, however, questioned the parallel forensic examination conducted in AAP-ruled Punjab, after which an FIR was registered claiming that the video was doctored. Gupta alleged that the Punjab Government acted hastily and raised serious concerns about the source of the video, the device used, and the chain of custody.
Gupta announced that he would seek a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the entire episode, including the forensic examination carried out in Punjab. He also reiterated that Atishi still had an opportunity to withdraw the alleged objectionable remarks and apologise before the House.
Reacting to the Speaker’s remarks, Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra claimed that the FSL report had vindicated his stand and accused the AAP leadership of misusing the Punjab Police to shield Atishi.
Cabinet Minister Manjinder Singh Sirsa, while addressing a separate press conference, alleged collusion between the AAP and the Punjab Government, questioning the credibility of the Punjab forensic report and claiming that an AI tool, “Gemini AI”, had been used during the examination. “Can an AI tool be used for investigation in such a serious matter?” Sirsa asked.
AAP leaders, however, rejected the Speaker’s interpretation of the forensic findings. Addressing a press conference at the AAP headquarters, party chief spokesperson Priyanka Kakkar said both forensic reports had clearly stated that Atishi did not use the word “Guru” at all. She alleged that the video shared by Kapil Mishra was doctored and accused the BJP of deliberately provoking religious sentiments.
Kakkar further demanded strict punishment for Mishra, claiming the act amounted to “Beadbi”. She said under blasphemy-related provisions, Mishra should face up to three years in prison so that “a strong message goes out to all leaders, who spread hatred that politics should focus on public issues.”
AAP Delhi unit chief Saurabh Bharadwaj echoed similar views, stating that the sole purpose of the forensic examination was to verify the exact words spoken by Atishi. “Even by listening carefully, it is clear that the word ‘Guru’ was never spoken. The forensic report’s silence on this itself proves that those words were not used,” he said, accusing the BJP of presenting a “half-truth”. He also demanded the dismissal of Kapil Mishra for committing ‘Beadbi’ against Guru Sahibs.
AAP National Media In-charge Anurag Dhanda accused Speaker Gupta of violating the dignity of the Delhi Assembly by publicly interpreting the forensic report instead of referring it to the Privileges Committee. He demanded that the report be made public and submitted before the Jalandhar court, asserting that both forensic examinations had cleared that Atishi did not use the word “Guru”.
The controversy stems from remarks allegedly made by Atishi in the Assembly on January 6 during a discussion on a Delhi Government programme organised last year to mark the 350th martyrdom anniversary of Guru Tegh Bahadur.
