On Sunday, January 11, 2026, the Delhi Police detained several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leaders who were protesting near the BJP headquarters in New Delhi. The AAP alleges that the BJP circulated a doctored video of Atishi, a senior AAP leader and former Delhi Chief Minister, with the intent to disrespect Sikh Gurus and to gain political advantage.

The controversy stems from a video shared by BJP leaders, including Delhi Minister Kapil Mishra, which AAP claims was manipulated to include words Atishi did not say. AAP alleges the video was deliberately edited to malign Atishi and that leaders from the BJP, Congress, and SAD amplified the content despite its offensive nature. The party has registered an FIR and claims a forensic examination confirmed the video's manipulation.

AAP workers are demanding an apology from BJP CM Rekha Gupta. Delhi AAP President Saurabh Bharadwaj stated that the party workers were demanding an apology from CM Rekha Gupta for Kapil Mishra's actions of inserting false words into Atishi's video. He accused Mishra of attempting to disrupt religious harmony and demanded action against him.

The AAP has accused the BJP of trying to divert attention from critical issues in Delhi, such as law and order, contaminated water, pollution, and the state of the Yamuna River. AAP MLA Jarnail Singh called the doctored video a "cheap conspiracy" to sideline the real issues of Delhi in the assembly session. Sanjeev Jha, another AAP MLA, accused the BJP-led state government of trying to divert attention from key issues by circulating the fraudulent video.

The issue has also resonated in Punjab, where AAP workers staged protests across the state. Demonstrations were held outside the residences of BJP leader Ashwani Sharma, Congress leaders Pargat Singh and Sukhpal Singh Khaira, and SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal. These protests followed forensic investigations that allegedly revealed deliberate tampering and targeted leaders who shared the edited video. AAP workers also "gheraoed" the residence of Shiromani Akali Dal Chief Sukhbir Singh Badal in Lambi, Sri Muktsar Sahib district, opposing his alleged role in circulating the manipulated video.

Delhi Assembly Speaker Vijender Gupta has sent notices to the Punjab Police DGP, special DGP (cybercrime), and the police commissioner of Jalandhar, seeking replies within 48 hours for allegedly breaching assembly privilege by using the house's video footage for forensic examination and registration of an FIR. Gupta stated that the video was the property of the Delhi Assembly, and its misuse hurt the house's dignity. AAP has called this move a misplaced attempt to intimidate the opposition.

The BJP has sought Atishi's disqualification from the assembly, and the speaker has ordered a forensic probe to verify the video's authenticity and has referred the matter to the privilege committee. The AAP has demanded Mishra's disqualification.