Haryana Police announced on Tuesday the arrest of two individuals in Gurugram for allegedly conspiring to produce a fabricated forensic report that claimed a blasphemous video did not feature Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The arrests were made following a complaint by Jaspreet Singh, manager of Cipher Sentinel Lab and Cyberyan Labs, who stated that employees were pressured to manipulate findings.
Details of the Arrests and FIR
According to the First Information Report (FIR) filed at the DLF Sector 29 police station in Gurugram, officials from the Punjab Government allegedly paid Rs 10 lakh to employees of Cipher Sentinel Lab and Cyberyan Labs to obtain a favorable report. The FIR was registered in connection with a 'highly sensitive video matter' based on Jaspreet Singh's complaint. The arrested individuals have been identified as Ankit Mahendru and Arun, both employees of the two labs.
In his complaint, Jaspreet Singh 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, “When I raised questions about the authenticity of the process, I was told that the ‘client’ required a specific result for political immunity, and I was threatened that my refusal would result in professional and personal consequences.”
Political Allegations and Reactions
Hours before the Haryana Police issued their statement, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Bikram Singh Majithia made a video statement alleging that a Punjab Commissioner of Police and a Superintendent of Police had struck a deal at a Gurugram hotel to obtain a fabricated report favoring Bhagwant Mann. Majithia named the two police officials in his statement, escalating the political controversy.
In a cryptic social media post late Tuesday evening, Officiating Akal Takht Jathedar Giani Kuldip Singh Gargaj wrote: “Great is your court, and true is your throne.” The post was interpreted by many as a comment on the unfolding situation, though he did not directly reference the arrests or the video.
Impact and Ongoing Investigation
The case highlights tensions between the Haryana and Punjab governments, with allegations of political interference in forensic investigations. The Haryana Police have not disclosed further details about the video in question or the identity of the 'client' mentioned in the FIR. Investigations are ongoing, and authorities have stated that more arrests are possible as the probe progresses.
