BJP's BL Santhosh demands Bhagwant Mann resign over viral clip forensic row
Synopsis
The viral video row targeting Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann has crossed a critical threshold — Gurugram Police have arrested two individuals over alleged forensic report tampering, a complaint names senior Punjab Police officers of DIG and SP rank, and the Akal Takht has declared the clip authentic. BJP's BL Santhosh is now calling it a triple-count indictment and demanding Mann's immediate resignation.
Key Takeaways
BJP National General Secretary B.L.
Santhosh demanded Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's resignation on 24 June over the viral video forensic row.
Gurugram Police arrested two individuals — Ankit and Arun — following a complaint by forensic expert Jaspreet Singh .
Jaspreet alleged he was offered ₹10 lakh by senior Punjab Police officers to produce a forensic report favourable to a specific conclusion.
The FIR names two Punjab government officials, including officers of DIG and SP rank, under BNS sections covering organised crime, cheating, and forgery of electronic records.
The Akal Takht has declared the video authentic and called Mann 'Guru dokhi' and 'panth virodhi' .
CM Mann has maintained the clip is fabricated and that the person in the video is an actor, not him.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) National General Secretary B.L. Santhosh on Wednesday, 24 June demanded the immediate resignation of Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, citing reports that state officials allegedly pressured a forensic expert into producing a fabricated report on a controversial video clip purportedly featuring the Chief Minister. The demand followed the arrest of two individuals by Gurugram Police in Haryana in connection with the case.
What Santhosh Said
In a post on X, Santhosh listed three grounds for his resignation demand — sacrilege, forging forensic reports, and misuse of the police department for a cover-up. 'Sacrilege ..forge reports .. Use Police dept for covering up … Guilty on three counts …. AAP Govt in Punjab run by liquor scam experts from earlier Delhi administration doesn't have anything to hide now. Only way left for CM Bhagwant Mann is to resign immediately,' he wrote.
The Forensic Expert's Complaint
The controversy escalated after forensic expert Jaspreet Singh filed a complaint with Gurugram Police, alleging that two senior Punjab Police officers — one reportedly holding the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and the other a Superintendent of Police (SP) — had approached him regarding the preparation of a report on the disputed video. He further alleged that he was offered ₹10 lakh to ensure the report aligned with a particular conclusion.
According to investigators, Jaspreet claimed he subsequently engaged two cyber experts — Ankit in Delhi and Arun in Panchkula — and that draft forensic reports were repeatedly revised under continuous WhatsApp supervision from a Punjab Police SP until they met the officials' expectations. Gurugram Police arrested both Ankit and Arun, who have been named in the First Information Report (FIR) and are scheduled to be produced before a court.
Charges Filed
Police have registered a case under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 111(2)(a) pertaining to organised crime, Section 318(2) related to cheating, and Sections 336 and 340 dealing with forgery of electronic records. Relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act have also been invoked. The FIR additionally names two Punjab government officials.
Mann's Position and the Akal Takht
Chief Minister Mann has consistently maintained that the video clip is fake, manipulated, and part of a campaign to malign his image. He has also conveyed to the Akal Takht — regarded as the highest temporal authority of the Sikh community — that the individual in the footage is an actor, not him.
However, the Akal Takht has declared the clip authentic and described Mann as 'Guru dokhi' (anti-Guru) and 'panth virodhi' (anti-panth), significantly deepening the political and religious dimensions of the controversy.
What Happens Next
The arrested individuals are due before a court, and investigators are yet to formally question the Punjab Police officers named in the FIR. With the Akal Takht's declaration adding a religious charge to what began as a political dispute, pressure on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government in Punjab is likely to intensify in the days ahead.
Point of View
However consistent, is now running against two powerful counter-narratives: a court-bound criminal case and the Akal Takht's religious verdict. For a government that built its identity on anti-corruption credentials, the allegation of using the police machinery to shape forensic evidence is a particularly damaging frame. The BJP's intervention is predictable, but the Akal Takht's declaration is the variable that AAP cannot easily dismiss or deflect.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is BJP demanding Bhagwant Mann's resignation?
BJP National General Secretary B.L. Santhosh has demanded Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann's resignation citing three grounds: alleged sacrilege, forging of forensic reports, and misuse of the police department to cover up the controversial video clip row. The demand came after Gurugram Police arrested two individuals over alleged forensic report tampering linked to the case.
What did forensic expert Jaspreet Singh allege?
Jaspreet Singh alleged that two senior Punjab Police officers — one of DIG rank and one of SP rank — approached him to prepare a forensic report on the disputed video and offered him ₹10 lakh to ensure a favourable conclusion. He further claimed that draft reports were repeatedly modified under WhatsApp supervision from a Punjab Police SP.
Who has been arrested in connection with the case?
Gurugram Police arrested two individuals identified as Ankit, based in Delhi, and Arun, based in Panchkula, who were engaged as cyber experts by Jaspreet Singh. Both have been named in the FIR and are scheduled to be produced before a court.
What has the Akal Takht said about the video?
The Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of the Sikh community, has declared the video clip to be authentic and described CM Bhagwant Mann as 'Guru dokhi' (anti-Guru) and 'panth virodhi' (anti-panth), significantly escalating the religious dimension of the controversy.
What is Bhagwant Mann's response to the video controversy?
CM Bhagwant Mann has consistently maintained that the video is fake, manipulated, and part of a deliberate campaign to damage his image. He has also communicated to the Akal Takht that the individual appearing in the footage is an actor and not him.
