Gurugram Police Allege ₹10 Lakh Bribe to Falsify Mann Video Forensic Report

A major political and criminal controversy has erupted in Punjab following claims by the Gurugram police that senior Punjab Police officers allegedly paid ₹10 lakh to a forensic expert to fabricate a report concerning a viral 'objectionable' video purportedly featuring Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The Gurugram police registered an FIR based on a complaint filed by digital forensics professional Jaspreet Singh, who alleged that individuals posing as senior Punjab government officials approached him to produce a forensic report supporting a predetermined conclusion: that the person in the controversial video was not CM Mann. According to the complaint, Jaspreet Singh claimed he was coerced and threatened, along with his family, into preparing the desired report. He further alleged that he engaged two cyber experts, Ankit and Arun, based in Delhi and Panchkula, respectively, to assist in the fabrication. These individuals were reportedly under continuous WhatsApp supervision from a Punjab Police SP, with draft reports being repeatedly edited until they met the expectations of the two police officers. The Gurugram police's investigation revealed that Jaspreet Singh received ₹10 lakh, out of which he paid an installment of ₹7.5 lakh, deposited ₹2.5 lakh into his personal account, and transferred ₹50,000 online to Ankit. Subsequently, Gurugram police arrested Ankit and Arun on June 23, 2026, and they were remanded in eight days' police custody for further interrogation. Police found that Arun prepared a report under the name 'Cyber Yaan' and Ankit under 'Cipher Sentinel,' but investigations suggest these entities are not recognized cyberforensic labs and lack official standing or physical existence. The arrested individuals were found to be contractual employees with government departments, not permanent staff. The video at the heart of this controversy shows a person allegedly sprinkling alcohol on images of Sikh gurus, an act deemed highly offensive. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has vehemently and consistently denied his presence in the video, labeling it as fake, manipulated, or AI-generated, and asserting that an actor was used to defame him. He has repeatedly stated that a frame-by-frame technical analysis by various independent forensic laboratories confirmed the individual in the video does not resemble him, citing differences in height, physique, and the absence of a surgical scar he possesses. Conversely, the Akal Takht, the highest temporal seat of the Sikhs, declared the video 'authentic' and explicitly stated it was neither tampered with nor AI-generated, based on its own forensic analyses from two laboratories. The Akal Takht then declared Mann as 'Guru Dokhi' (one who disrespects Gurus) and 'Panth Virodhi' (anti-Panth). The Akal Takht had earlier released a video of Mann's appearance before them, where he denied the video's authenticity but expressed willingness for a forensic examination. The bribery allegations have intensified the political storm in Punjab. Opposition parties, including the BJP, Congress, and Akali Dal, have capitalized on these developments, demanding Chief Minister Mann's resignation and accusing the Punjab government of misusing high-ranking police officials to produce a false report to exonerate the CM. BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa specifically named Ludhiana Commissioner Swapan Sharma and SP Jashandeep Singh as allegedly involved in obtaining the fake report. In response, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has maintained his innocence, launching counter-allegations that the opposition parties are engaged in a coordinated defamation campaign against him. He claimed that forensic laboratories are being pressured by the BJP government in Haryana to retract reports that had previously verified the video as fake. Mann also presented his 'mask theory,' suggesting the video's subject wore a silicone mask resembling him, and highlighted supposed inconsistencies like a visible mask line and differences in physical attributes to support his claim of impersonation. This evolving controversy represents a complex interplay of political rivalry, religious sentiment, and serious criminal charges of bribery and evidence tampering. The Gurugram police's ongoing investigation aims to uncover the full extent of the alleged conspiracy, including the involvement of other individuals and the recovery of devices used in fabricating the reports. The differing forensic findings and the new allegations of bribery further complicate the narrative surrounding the 'objectionable' video and its implications for Punjab's political landscape.

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