The Lok Sabha panel formed to look into the case of Aam Aadmi Party MP Bhagwant Mann live-streaming a video from Parliament found the legislator guilty of compromising security. All nine members of the inquiry committee, headed by Bharatiya Janata Party MP Kirit Somaiya, are of the same opinion, officials told India Today.
However, members of the inquiry panel disagreed regarding the degree of punishment that should be meted out. While some want to simply reprimand Mann, others believe that stricter punishment is warranted. A final decision on the matter may be announced on Wednesday, August 3, but the committee may seek additional time to reach a consensus.
Mann drew criticism for live-streaming a Parliament session on Facebook on July 21. The video reportedly showed the approach to the premises of Parliament building, the security pickets and internal security positions. Although Mann has maintained that his act was unintentional, he apologised to Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, who had asked him not to attend the ongoing Monsoon Session till the committee submits its report.
On July 26, the inquiry panel had declared that the comedian-turned-politician had, indeed, exposed the House's security system in the video. Moreover, a few Lok Sabha MPs on Tuesday demanded that Mann be sent to a rehabilitation centre to deal with his alleged drug and alcohol addiction problem. BJP's Maheish Girri, Shiromani Akali Dal's Prem Singh Chandumajra and suspended AAP MP Harinder Singh Khalsa have urged Mahajan to not allow Mann to attend Parliament sessions until he is given clean chit from the rehab, The Times of India reported.
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