Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann

The controversy surrounding a viral video allegedly showing Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in an intoxicated state and disrespecting Sikh Gurus has taken a fresh turn, with a Gurugram Police FIR calling for a detailed probe into the forensic reports that were used to rebut the allegations against the AAP leader.

The development comes months after the video surfaced online and triggered a political and religious storm in Punjab. Following widespread public outrage, the Akal Takht had summoned Mann and subsequently declared him a Guru Dokhi (betrayer of the Guru) and an enemy of the Khalsa Panth, reportedly relying on forensic assessments obtained to verify the video's authenticity.

Mann had strongly contested the allegations, maintaining that the video was fake, manipulated and generated using artificial intelligence to malign him.

The latest FIR, a copy of which is with businessline, was registered at Gurugram's DLF Police Station and is being investigated by the Haryana Police Crime Branch. It stems from a complaint filed by Jaspreet alias Jassi, who describes himself as a forensic and cyber-security professional, against senior Punjab government officials, private individuals Arun Mahendru and Ankit and others.

In his complaint, Jassi alleged that he was "influenced, pressured, threatened and induced" by senior Punjab government officials to secure forensic reports relating to the video controversy. According to the FIR, electronic material was provided to him for the purpose of obtaining such reports.

"...under the environment of pressure, threats and fear, reports were subsequently obtained from organisations named Cipher Sentinel Lab and Cyberyan Labs," the complaint states.

Recounting the sequence of events, Jassi said he attended a meeting at Hotel Crowne Plaza in Gurugram on June 15, where he met a person claiming to be a senior Punjab government official. Another "highly senior officer", whom those present referred to as bade saab, was also in attendance.

"During the meeting, I was told to get a report needed to show that the video was created by AI and was altered, fake, or unreliable, and that the person visible in the video is not the CM," Jassi alleged. He said further meetings followed.

The complainant further alleged that drafts of the reports were reviewed by the officials concerned before being finalised.

"...the drafts of the reports were being prepared by those individuals, and continuous pressure was exerted on me to share these drafts on the WhatsApp number of the said senior official of the Punjab Government. That official continuously reviewed the reports and kept giving instructions to carry out various revisions, alterations, and to include additional material to ensure a favourable conclusion," the complaint alleged.

The FIR raises questions about the circumstances in which the forensic reports were commissioned and prepared. As of now, the allegations remain under investigation.

Published on June 23, 2026