Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann (PTI file photo)

NEW DELHI: With Gurugram Police investigating an alleged Rs 10 lakh-for-report deal in a viral video case, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann found himself at the centre of a fresh political storm on Wednesday. The BJP accused the AAP leader of trying to suppress allegations of “sacrilegious conduct” and demanded action against him.The BJP’s offensive came days after the Akal Takht took action against Mann over the controversy, referring to a video that allegedly showed “disrespecting the Sikh Gurus”. The saffron party accused Mann of misusing state machinery and questioned AAP supremo and former Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal for remaining “silent” on the issue.Leading the attack, Delhi minister and BJP leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa demanded action against the Punjab chief minister.Addressing a presser on Wednesday, Sirsa said, “…Bhagwant Mann remained silent, Arvind Kejriwal also remained silent, and today the arrests and case filed against those who provided this forensic report were made…The way such a grave sin has been committed, and the attempt to suppress it with the help of money and the police, has been challenged. Sikh authorities, the dignity of Sikhs, and the sentiments of Sikhs have been challenged...When will a case be filed against Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann? When will Bhagwant Mann be arrested in this case?…”Sirsa also accused Mann of using his office to cover up the controversy. In a post on X, he wrote: “Nothing can be more shameful for Punjab than a chief minister facing allegations of sacrilegious conduct and then allegedly using the power of his office to cover it up. After the Akal Takht Sahib’s order on 15 June, senior Punjab Police officers were sent to secure a favourable forensic report with Rs 10 lakh deal with a forensic lab in Gurugram.“He added, “The seriousness of the matter is evident from the FIR registered by Haryana Police against Punjab Govt officials and others for coercing a cyber expert into fabricating a forensic report in favour of Punjab CM. Mann Sahab has lost all moral authority to remain in office. He must step down.”“This is now a litmus test for Punjab Police. The recently enacted Beadbi law cannot become a tool only for ordinary citizens while the chief minister remains above scrutiny. The very first case under the law should be registered against Bhagwant Mann. Most importantly, Punjab is now facing a grave constitutional crisis. A sitting chief minister stands accused of misusing police and state machinery to shield himself from accountability. This is a fit case for Bhagwant Mann’s removal from office,” he added further.BJP spokesperson RP Singh also weighed in, alleging that investigations had found the controversial video to be genuine.“Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann was in a video where he was seen disrespecting Guru Sahib and misbehaving with images. The Jathedar of Akal Takht Sahib had called him and asked him to get it verified through his own agency. Bhagwant Mann ignored it and did not get it investigated. After that, Akal Takht Sahib got it verified, and the video was found to be genuine. Now, after it was found to be correct, Akal Takht Sahib removed Bhagwant Mann from the panth. Two agencies then submitted a report saying the video was not genuine. Following this, Gurgaon Police investigated the individuals involved and found it to be fake…”Another BJP leader, Tajinder Bagga, also targeted Mann and shared CCTV footage on social media, alleging a meeting between Punjab Police officers and a forensic laboratory in Gurugram.He wrote: “On 15 June, after the Akal Takht Sahib’s order against Bhagwanta, Bhagwanta gave a task to Ludhiana CP Swapan Sharma and SP Jashandeep to prepare a fake forensic report in his favour.On 16 June, Swapan Sharma and Jashandeep came to Gurugram and met the owners of a forensic lab at Crowne Plaza, Gurugram, to crack a deal in 10 Lakh. “This is CCTV footage from Crowne Plaza showing the meeting between Swapan Sharma, Jashandeep, and the lab owners,” BJP leader Bagga added.Meanwhile, Gurugram Police said they had detained two people in connection with the alleged fabrication of a forensic report linked to the viral video.Gurugram ACP Crime Naveen Sharma said, “The Gurgaon Police received a complaint. We have taken two individuals into custody; an interrogation is currently underway. One suspect has been identified as Ankit, a cyber-expert working with the NIA on a contract basis; the other individual is named Arun. The complaint pertains to a viral video that they had fraudulently created and circulated. They did not operate out of any government-recognised laboratory. They fabricated a video featuring the Chief Minister of our neighbouring state. We have detained them for this act, and the investigation is ongoing.They stated that they were given Rs 10 lakh for this task, and indicated that certain officials from the neighbouring state were also involved. Whatever further details emerge from the ongoing investigation will be discussed and verified with a forensic expert.”

What is the controversy?

The row centres on a viral video that critics claim shows Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann disrespecting Sikh religious imagery. Mann has strongly denied the allegation and insists the person seen in the video is not him.In a video message issued on June 19, Mann said, “It is not me in the viral video, but an actor who looks like me. 1,191 frames were examined during the forensic analysis; not a single frame matches me. A well-planned conspiracy was hatched to defame me. Instructions have been issued to the DGP to identify the conspirators and take action against them. The guilty will be apprehended and brought back from any corner of the world.“The row scaled up further after the Akal Takht, led by acting Jathedar Giani Kuldeep Singh Gargaj, directed members of the Sikh community to sever ties with Mann over the issue.With BJP demanding criminal action, police investigations under way, and religious authorities weighing in, the controversy has become one of the biggest political challenges facing the Punjab chief minister.