Gurugram police arrested two men on Tuesday for allegedly fabricating a forensic report intended to exonerate Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in a viral sacrilege video controversy. The arrests followed a complaint from a forensic expert who acted as a whistleblower.
Arrests and FIR Details
The suspects, identified as Ankit and Arun, were taken into custody after Jaspreet, an employee of Cipher Sentinel Lab, approached the police with allegations of coercion and bribery. The Tribune obtained a copy of the FIR registered at the DLF Police Station, which outlines charges of cheating and fabrication of electronic records.
According to the FIR, Jaspreet stated, "I was specifically instructed by Ankit and Arun to generate a report that would definitively rule the video as doctored, regardless of the actual data." He further claimed that when he raised concerns, he was told the "client" required a specific result for political immunity and was threatened with professional and personal consequences.
Bribery and Coercion Allegations
Jaspreet alleged that the suspects offered him Rs 10 lakh to sign off on forged documents, stating the arrangement was "cleared at the highest levels" and his signature was merely a formality. Sources indicated that the technicians were moved to a luxury hotel in Sector 29, where the fraudulent report was finalized with forged stamps and credentials.
Police have seized hotel CCTV footage to corroborate the claims. During preliminary questioning, the suspects reportedly claimed they were unaware of the political implications of their actions.
Political and Police Repercussions
The development marks a stark reversal for local authorities. Just 24 hours earlier, when Congress leader Sukhpal Khaira alleged police raids related to the forensic report, the department had denied any action. The sudden shift to a criminal investigation has prompted a high-level meeting among police brass to determine the next steps.
The investigation, led by ASI Tarun Kumar, is now scrutinizing whether any genuine forensic assessment was ever conducted or if the document was entirely fabricated. Investigators are also probing potential complicity within law enforcement to determine if state machinery was exploited to legitimize the falsified document. A formal statement from the department is expected shortly.
