The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has accused a major conspiracy to tamper with forensic evidence after Gurugram Police arrested two men linked to a complaint by a forensic expert. The complaint involved alleged attempts by senior Punjab Police officials to influence a forensic report concerning a controversial video clip purportedly featuring Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The video’s authenticity has been a subject of political and religious debate in Punjab, with CM Mann asserting it as fake and part of a smear campaign against him.
The Chief Minister has informed the Akal Takht that the video was doctored and the person in it was not him but an actor. The case took a significant turn following the arrests in Haryana, where the two individuals, Ankit and Arun, are set to appear in court. The FIR also implicates two Punjab government officials in the matter.
Reacting to the arrests, BJP spokesperson R.P. Singh claimed that the situation revealed a state-supported scheme to fabricate evidence and influence a sensitive issue. Singh emphasized that the issue had escalated into a serious criminal investigation beyond mere political controversy.
Forensic expert Jaspreet Singh, in his complaint to Gurugram Police, alleged being approached to prepare a report on the disputed video. He mentioned the involvement of a Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and a Superintendent of Police (SP) from Punjab Police in the alleged coercion to align the forensic reports with certain expectations. The case involves charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Information Technology Act.
