Gurugram Police arrest two over 'tailored' forensic report in Bhagwant Mann video case
Synopsis
A forensic expert's complaint has triggered arrests, an FIR under organised-crime provisions, and BJP allegations of a state-sponsored cover-up — all centred on a disputed video purportedly featuring Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann. With the Akal Takht declaring the clip authentic and the labs that cleared Mann allegedly exposed as non-existent entities, the case has moved from political controversy to criminal investigation.
Key Takeaways
Gurugram Police arrested Ankit Sharma and Arun Mahendru following a complaint by forensic expert Jaspreet Singh over alleged forgery of forensic reports.
0263, DLF Sector-29 ) invokes BNS Section 111(2)(a) (organised crime), Sections 318(2) , 336 , and 340 , and IT Act provisions.
Jaspreet alleged he was offered ₹10 lakh and threatened at the Crowne Plaza Hotel, Gurugram on 15–16 June to produce a favourable report.
Labs named in the alleged forgery — Cipher Sentinel Lab and Cyber Yaan Lab — reportedly have no physical existence or legal accreditation, according to investigators.
The Akal Takht has declared the contested video authentic and described CM Mann as 'Guru dokhi'; Mann denies the video features him.
BJP has called the arrests evidence of a 'state-sponsored conspiracy' and demanded Mann's resignation; the Punjab government has not issued a detailed response.
Gurugram Police have arrested two individuals — Ankit Sharma and Arun Mahendru — following a complaint by forensic expert Jaspreet Singh, who alleged that senior Punjab Police officials attempted to pressure him into producing a favourable forensic report concerning a disputed video clip purportedly featuring Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The arrests, made by the Gurugram Crime Branch, have sharpened a political controversy that now carries serious criminal dimensions, with an FIR (No. 0263, DLF Sector-29) registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
What the FIR Alleges
According to the complaint submitted to Gurugram Police, forensic expert Jaspreet Singh alleged he was approached to prepare a report on the contested video. He claimed that on 15–16 June, he was cornered at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Gurugram by individuals identifying themselves as senior Punjab officials, including a high-ranking officer described as a 'Bade Sahib'. One of the officials named in the allegations reportedly holds the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG), while the other is a Superintendent of Police (SP).
Jaspreet alleged that when he indicated the video footage was of insufficient quality to scientifically establish it as a deepfake, pressure was applied — including, he claimed, threats against his family and ₹10 lakh in cash allegedly forced into his vehicle to secure a 'tailored' clearance report.
How the Forgery Allegedly Unfolded
According to the FIR, after Jaspreet reportedly refused to comply, unidentified Punjab officials allegedly delivered pen drives to two contractual operators — Arun Mahendru in Panchkula and Ankit Sharma in Delhi. The two men are alleged to have produced official-looking forensic clearance certificates under the banners of 'Cipher Sentinel Lab' and 'Cyber Yaan Lab' — entities that investigators have reportedly verified do not exist physically and hold no legal accreditation. Draft reports were allegedly revised repeatedly under continuous WhatsApp supervision from a Punjab Police SP until they aligned with the desired conclusion.
Police have registered the case under BNS Section 111(2)(a) (organised crime), Section 318(2) (cheating), and Sections 336 and 340 (forgery of electronic records), alongside relevant IT Act provisions. Both arrested individuals are scheduled to be produced before a court.
BJP's Response
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson R.P. Singh alleged the arrests had exposed a state-backed effort to fabricate evidence. In a post on X, Singh said, 'The Bhagwant Mann video cover-up unravels. The Gurugram Police Crime Branch has registered a massive criminal case, completely blowing the lid off a state-sponsored conspiracy to forge forensic evidence and shield Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann from political and religious ruin.'
Singh further alleged that Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leadership had earlier cited reports from the same labs — now allegedly exposed as 'fraudulent phantom setups' — to counter the Akal Takht's declaration that the video was authentic. He called for Chief Minister Mann's resignation, describing the development as 'a fatal blow to the Mann government.'
Mann's Position and the Akal Takht Dimension
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has consistently maintained that the video is fake, manipulated, and designed to malign him. He has conveyed to the Akal Takht — the highest temporal authority of the Sikh community — that the person seen in the footage is not him but an actor. The Akal Takht, however, has declared the clip authentic and described Mann as 'Guru dokhi' (anti-Guru) and 'panth virodhi' (anti-panth), a characterisation Mann has firmly rejected.
The involvement of the Akal Takht has lent the controversy a significant religious dimension, extending it well beyond a conventional political dispute. This is the first instance in recent memory of a sitting Chief Minister being directly censured by the Sikh religious establishment over contested video evidence.
What Happens Next
The Gurugram Police investigation is ongoing. Authorities are examining the full chain of alleged instructions, the identities of the Punjab officials named in the FIR, and the role of the two now-arrested individuals. The FIR also mentions the alleged involvement of two Punjab government officials, whose status remains under scrutiny. Further developments from both the criminal investigation and the Akal Takht proceedings are awaited.
Point of View
The credibility damage extends beyond the Chief Minister to the party's broader claim of institutional integrity. The Akal Takht's involvement adds a dimension that no Punjab government can afford to dismiss; historically, censure from the Takht has reshaped political fortunes in the state. What is still missing from the public record is the Punjab government's direct, detailed rebuttal of the FIR's specific allegations — its silence, or the lack of a counter-narrative, is itself a political signal.
NationPress
24 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who has been arrested in the Bhagwant Mann video forensic report case?
Gurugram Police arrested two individuals — Ankit Sharma and Arun Mahendru — on the basis of a complaint filed by forensic expert Jaspreet Singh . They are accused of producing forged forensic clearance certificates under the names of labs that investigators say do not legally exist.
What is the disputed video involving Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann?
The video is a clip that allegedly features Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in an objectionable context. Mann has consistently denied it shows him, calling it fabricated and claiming an actor was used. The Akal Takht has, however, declared the clip authentic.
What does the FIR allege against Punjab Police officials?
The FIR alleges that senior Punjab Police officers — including a DIG and an SP — pressured forensic expert Jaspreet Singh to produce a report favourable to the conclusion that the video was fake, offering him ₹10 lakh and allegedly threatening his family when he refused.
What is the Akal Takht's position on the Bhagwant Mann video?
The Akal Takht , the highest temporal authority of the Sikh community, has declared the video clip authentic and described CM Mann as 'Guru dokhi' (anti-Guru) and 'panth virodhi' (anti-panth). Mann has rejected these characterisations and maintains the footage is manipulated.
Under which laws has the Gurugram Police case been registered?
The FIR has been registered under BNS Section 111(2)(a) (organised crime), Section 318(2) (cheating), and Sections 336 and 340 (forgery of electronic records), along with relevant provisions of the Information Technology Act .
