Gurugram/Chandigarh, June 24: The Gurugram Police have apprehended two individuals accused of fabricating a forensic report related to a viral video involving Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. Authorities revealed that the suspects allegedly accepted a payment of ₹10 lakh from certain officials to manufacture the fraudulent document. The developments come amidst an ongoing investigation into the origins of the controversial footage.
Gurugram Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Crime, Naveen Sharma, declared that the law enforcement agency acted swiftly on a formal complaint. The suspects have been identified as Arun and Ankit, the latter being a cyber-expert engaged with the National Investigation Agency on a contractual basis.
“The suspects did not operate from any government-recognized laboratory but instead fabricated the material featuring the Chief Minister,” ACP Sharma asserted during a press briefing. He further maintained that the claims regarding the involvement of specific officials and the monetary transaction are currently being verified alongside independent forensic experts.
The controversy gained momentum after the Akal Takht, led by acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, issued a directive to the community regarding the Chief Minister while the authenticity of the media was being scrutinized. The footage had drawn scrutiny over alleged disrespect to religious sentiments, prompting institutional reactions.
Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has firmly dismissed the video, describing it as a calculated attempt to damage his reputation. In a detailed video address, the Chief Minister affirmed that the individual depicted in the footage is an actor who happens to share a physical resemblance with him.
“After conducting forensic tests on 1,191 frames of the video, none of those frames was identified to resemble me,” Mann stated. He added that the state police administration has received clear instructions to track down the creators of the clip, vowing that those responsible for the plot will face appropriate legal consequences.
