A fresh political storm engulfed Punjab on Wednesday, 24 June over a disputed viral video allegedly linked to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, with rival parties trading accusations over fabricated forensic evidence and the clip's authenticity. The controversy has drawn in religious authorities, state police, and national political figures, making it one of the most charged crises of Mann's tenure.

Health Minister Dismisses Allegations

Punjab Health Minister Balbir Singh firmly rejected charges that a forensic report connected to the video had been fabricated, standing squarely behind the Chief Minister. 'I don't need to comment on this. The Chief Minister has already spoken on it, and the truth is in front of the people. Defeated and disheartened people are indulging in bad politics against a Chief Minister who is doing a good job,' Singh said.

The minister's remarks signal that the ruling Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) intends to hold its ground rather than engage with what it characterises as politically motivated attacks.

Opposition Presses for Resignation

Congress MP Amar Singh escalated the political pressure, calling on Bhagwant Mann to step down. 'Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has no way out but for resigning. In Sikh history, this has not happened till date that a CM or any person disregarded the Akal Takht and tried to prove its report as false,' he said.

Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson R.P. Singh also trained his fire on the Chief Minister, alleging that the video showed Mann disrespecting religious images. He claimed that Akal Takht Sahib — Sikhism's highest temporal seat — had independently verified the video as genuine and subsequently removed Mann from the panth, before two agencies submitted reports declaring it inauthentic.

'Gurgaon Police investigated the individuals involved and found it to be fake,' R.P. Singh said, adding that the sequence of events pointed to an attempt to suppress an adverse religious verdict.

Gurugram Police Arrest Two Over Alleged Fabrication

The controversy sharpened after Gurugram Police said they had exposed an alleged conspiracy to manipulate digital evidence by fabricating a fake forensic and cyber analysis report linked to the viral video case. Two accused were arrested on Tuesday, with police stating they had thwarted an attempt to distort facts surrounding the matter.

Notably, the arrests introduced a criminal dimension to what had until then been a political and religious dispute, raising questions about who commissioned the allegedly fake reports and to what end.

Religious and Political Stakes

At the heart of the row is a viral video that has triggered both political and religious debate across Punjab. The Akal Takht Sahib — whose pronouncements carry significant weight among the Sikh community — is reported to have called on Mann to have the clip independently verified, a request he reportedly did not act upon. The Takht subsequently conducted its own verification, reportedly finding the video authentic, before the competing forensic narratives emerged.

This is not the first time a Punjab Chief Minister has faced a controversy intersecting religion and political accountability, but the alleged fabrication of forensic evidence — now the subject of a criminal investigation — gives this episode an unusually serious legal dimension.

What Happens Next

With investigations ongoing and both political parties and religious institutions staking out firm positions, the controversy shows no sign of resolution. The outcome of the Gurugram Police probe and any further action by Akal Takht Sahib are likely to determine the political trajectory for CM Mann in the weeks ahead.