Last week, the Akal Takht declared Bhagwant Mann "anti-Sikh" over a viral video that allegedly showed him sprinkling alcohol on images of Sikh gurus. In response, the Punjab government released a forensic report claiming that the footage had been examined by two forensic laboratories and that the individual seen in the video was not the Chief Minister. The government maintained that the video had been fabricated by political opponents to tarnish Mann's image.
However, the controversy took a dramatic turn after Gurugram Police registered a criminal case and arrested individuals allegedly involved in creating the forensic report made public by the Punjab government. According to Gurugram Police, an investigation uncovered a conspiracy to manipulate digital evidence through the preparation of a fake forensic and cyber analysis report connected to the viral video case.
On Tuesday, Gurugram Police arrested two accused, Ankit from Delhi and Arun from Panchkula. According to the complaint, the complainant was approached by individuals claiming to be senior officials of the Punjab government. They allegedly pressured him to prepare a forensic report with predetermined conclusions aimed at denying the identity of the individual seen in the viral video and discrediting the allegations arising from it.
The complainant stated that he was introduced to several individuals and questionable cyber and forensic entities for the preparation of such reports. He further alleged that he was offered a substantial financial incentive, including ten lakh rupees in cash, and that repeated revisions were sought to ensure the report matched a predetermined narrative.
Armed with these revelations, the Bharatiya Janata Party launched a sharp attack on Bhagwant Mann. Party leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa, while addressing a press conference on Wednesday, alleged that Ludhiana Commissioner Swapan Sharma and Superintendent of Police Jashandeep Singh played a role in obtaining the fake report to provide a clean chit to the Chief Minister.
Sirsa claimed that the case had exposed extensive forgery and fabrication by the Punjab government. He also shared messages allegedly exchanged between Punjab Police officials and the accused, asserting that they revealed how the report had been prepared. According to him, the entire arrangement between the accused and police officials was finalized at a hotel in Gurugram, where money was also allegedly exchanged.
Demanding immediate action, Sirsa said Bhagwant Mann had insulted the Sikh community and the Akal Takht and had attempted to undermine the authority of the highest Sikh body through financial influence. He called for the Chief Minister's immediate arrest.
The Bharatiya Janata Party leader and Delhi minister also questioned the silence of Aam Aadmi Party chief Arvind Kejriwal over the controversy. He asked why Kejriwal had not condemned what he described as an insult to Sikhs and the Akal Takht. Sirsa further alleged that the current Aam Aadmi Party government in Punjab was functioning with a "Mughal mindset" and continuing to hurt Sikh sentiments.
Earlier, after the forensic report was released, Bhagwant Mann had asserted that the entire episode had been orchestrated by his political opponents to damage his reputation. He had also warned that Punjab Police would identify those responsible for circulating the video and ensure they were punished. The report released by his government had maintained that a detailed analysis proved the person in the footage was not the Chief Minister.
The latest developments and allegations of forgery have added a new dimension to the controversy and provided the Bharatiya Janata Party with fresh ammunition in its escalating political attack against Bhagwant Mann. With arrests already made and serious allegations involving senior officials now surfacing, the controversy has emerged as one of the most significant political challenges confronting the Punjab Chief Minister.
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