GURGAON: The Haryana Police on Tuesday arrested two men after registering a case based on a complaint alleging attempts to procure a fabricated forensic report linked to a viral video at the centre of a controversy involving the Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann.The accused have been identified as Arun Mehandru, 25, a resident of Aggarsain Colony in Sirsa, and Ankit, 25, a resident of Kharak Gagar in Jind district of Haryana.The arrests come amid a political row triggered by an alleged objectionable video. Following the controversy, the Akal Takht, the highest temporal body of Sikhs, issued an edict against the CM Bhagwant Mann on June 15, news agency PTI reported.The edict was issued after Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargajj claimed that two forensic laboratories had found the video, purportedly showing a man resembling Mann, to be “authentic”.Mann has denied the allegation, describing the video as “false propaganda” aimed at defaming him. The Punjab Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has also maintained that forensic tests by two laboratories concluded that the person seen in the video was not Bhagwant Mann.AAP’s Punjab unit president Aman Arora criticised the Haryana Police action, alleging political motivation. “They can do whatever they want, initiate any inquiry they choose and make any allegation they wish,” he said.“If the BJP is genuinely interested in uncovering the truth, why is it not investigating who created this video, who acted in it, who financed it, and who was responsible for circulating it?” Arora asked. Hr stated that “the entire Punjab knows that the person seen in the video was not CM Bhagwant Singh Mann”.According to the FIR registered in Gurgaon, the complainant, Jaspreet, a resident of Sirsa, alleged that he was pressured, threatened and coerced into arranging forensic reports.He alleged that it was a predetermined conclusion that the viral video was generated using artificial intelligence and that the person seen was not the Punjab chief minister.Jaspreet, who works in digital forensics, cyber investigation and electronic evidence analysis, said he informed those who approached him that the quality, nature and source of the video were insufficient to provide a reliable forensic opinion, PTI reported.However, Arora countered the allegations, saying, “Had there been any intention to secure a favourable forensic report, it could have been done through any laboratory in Punjab, where law and order is under our government. The fact that this was not done clearly shows that the objective was to obtain an impartial assessment of the video.”In a statement, Gurgaon Police said it acted swiftly “to expose an alleged conspiracy involving the preparation of fake forensic and cyber analysis reports related to a viral video”.Based on a preliminary inquiry, technical analysis, digital evidence, financial transactions and other material, a case was registered at DLF Sector-29 police station, the statement said.The FIR invoked several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 111(2)(a) related to organised crime, along with provisions on cheating and forgery. Sections 65 and 66D of the Information Technology Act, 2000, relating to tampering with computer source documents and cheating by personation using electronic means, were also added.A special investigation team was formed, which arrested two accused persons involved in the conspiracy on Tuesday, the police said.According to the complaint, Jaspreet was approached by individuals claiming to be senior Punjab government officials.“The complainant was allegedly asked to arrange a forensic report concerning a viral video in a manner that would support a pre-determined conclusion by denying the identity of the individual appearing in the video and portraying all allegations connected with the video as false,” the police statement said.Police further said that the complainant alleged that he was introduced to multiple individuals and that reports were prepared in the names of “suspicious or non-genuine cyber and forensic institutions”.Police also claimed that substantial monetary inducements were offered and repeated changes were sought to steer the reports towards a specific conclusion.The complaint alleged that around Rs 10 lakh in cash was provided to facilitate the preparation of the reports, with payments routed through various channels.Jaspreet said he later developed doubts about the credibility and authenticity of the institutions involved. When he raised concerns, he was allegedly threatened and warned against making the matter public.The police said the accused are being interrogated to identify others involved in preparing fake forensic reports, verify the legal status of the institutions named, and trace financial transactions linked to the alleged conspiracy.Electronic devices, documents and other material evidence are undergoing forensic examination as part of the probe. “Gurgaon Police is conducting the investigation with utmost seriousness, professionalism, and transparency. No individual will be considered above the law,” the statement said.The complainant also claimed he was asked to obtain two separate reports from different laboratories and alleged that he was warned that failure to comply would endanger his family’s safety.Sharing a copy of the FIR on X, former Punjab Leader of Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira demanded Chief Minister Mann’s resignation and the registration of a case against him.(With agency inputs)
