BJP National General Secretary B.L. Santhosh has urged Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann to step down following allegations of manipulated forensic reports related to a contentious video clip. Santhosh criticized the Punjab government, accusing officials of attempting to cover up the issue using the police department.
The demand for Mann’s resignation comes after the arrest of two individuals by Gurugram Police based on a complaint by a forensic expert. The expert claimed that senior Punjab Police officers tried to influence the forensic report concerning an alleged video featuring Chief Minister Mann.
The controversy has sparked a political and religious debate in Punjab regarding the authenticity of the video clip. Chief Minister Mann has consistently denied the video’s legitimacy, labeling it as fake and part of a smear campaign against him.
Despite Mann’s assertions, the situation escalated with the arrest of two individuals in connection with the case. The forensic expert alleged that he was offered a bribe to manipulate the forensic report in favor of a specific outcome related to the video.
The complaint also implicates two Punjab government officials in the matter. The forensic expert stated that the forensic reports were altered under the supervision of Punjab Police officials until they aligned with the officials’ expectations.
The police have filed a case under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including those related to organized crime, cheating, and forgery of electronic records. Additionally, provisions of the Information Technology Act have been invoked in the investigation.
The controversy has garnered attention from the Sikh religious community, with the Akal Takht affirming the video’s authenticity and criticizing Chief Minister Mann as being against the Sikh faith.
