Gurgaon: The controversy over a video allegedly featuring Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann took a turn in BJP-governed Haryana on Tuesday as Gurgaon police filed an FIR, made two arrests, and began probing allegations that a fake digital forensic report was prepared at the behest of Punjab govt officers to certify that the video was AI-generated.Police claimed the duo taken into custody — Jind resident Ankit and Sirsa resident Arun Mahendru — was involved in analysing the video, which Mann, who heads Punjab’s AAP govt, had earlier dismissed as one created using artificial intelligence. The arrests, according to police, were made by a Sector 40 crime branch team after the case was registered at DLF Sector 29 police station on Tuesday on a complaint from Sirsa resident Jaspreet, who claims to be an expert in digital forensics and electronic evidence analysis.According to the FIR, Jaspreet told police that he received a call from a person claiming to be “a senior Punjab govt officer”, who sought a meeting with him at Crowne Plaza hotel in Gurgaon. There, Jaspreet alleged, two Punjab govt officers met him and asked him to arrange two independent forensic reports stating that the video linked to the Punjab CM was AI-generated, digitally altered or fake.Jaspreet also alleged he was offered Rs 10 lakh for getting the reports prepared.Jaspreet alleged he initially refused, stating the available material was not sufficient for a reliable forensic opinion but was then “pressured and threatened” to get the reports.A Gurgaon police officer said, “Jaspreet used to frequently visit Ludhiana and he was in contact with an individual who introduced the Punjab govt officer to Jaspreet to orchestrate the fake report.”Arun And Ankit are allegedly acquaintances of Jaspreet who work in the same field. Police said the reports were prepared in the names of two labs — Cyber Yaan and Cipher Sentinel Lab — but verification revealed neither entity had any physical presence on the ground.According to investigators, Ankit prepared a video analysis report in the name of Cipher Sentinel Lab while Arun prepared the Cyber Yaan report. They said neither of the two had any official connection to any digital forensic lab. Police spokesperson Sandeep Turan said, “Ankit works as a contractual employee with a Delhi govt department, while Arun works as a contractual employee with a Haryana govt department and is currently posted in Panchkula.”The FIR was registered at Sector 29 police station under sections 65 (tampering with computer source documents) and 66D (cheating by personation by using computer resource) of Information Technology Act and sections 111(2)(a) (organised crime), 318(2) (cheating), 319 (cheating by personation), 336(2) (forgery), 336(3) (forgery, intending that the document or electronic record forged shall be used for the purpose of cheating), 340 (forged physical document or electronic record as genuine) of BNS.An officer said, “A police team is questioning the accused and examining digital devices, documents and financial transactions to identify other persons who may be involved in the case.”
