A fresh political controversy has erupted over a disputed viral video allegedly linked to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann after Gurugram Police registered an FIR in connection with claims that a forensic report concerning the footage was fabricated under pressure.
The case was registered at DLF Police Station in Gurugram on the complaint of Sirsa-based digital forensic expert Jaspreet Jassi. The FIR names two Haryana residents and contains allegations involving individuals who were purportedly acting on behalf of senior Punjab government functionaries.
According to the complaint, Jassi was allegedly approached to facilitate a forensic assessment declaring the controversial video to be manipulated, AI-generated or otherwise inauthentic. He claimed that after examining the material shown to him, he informed those involved that no conclusive opinion could be given regarding the authenticity of the footage based on the available data.
The complainant further alleged that he attended multiple meetings in Gurugram where repeated efforts were made to secure a report supporting a predetermined conclusion. He claimed that pressure was exerted on him to arrange such a report and that he and his family were allegedly threatened after he expressed reservations. Jassi also alleged that cash amounting to Rs 10 lakh was placed in his vehicle without his consent.
In the FIR, the complainant alleged that reports were eventually procured from private forensic laboratories and that modifications were allegedly sought in draft findings before they were shared with officials. The allegations are now part of the ongoing police investigation.
Congress says FIR substantiated its claim
The development comes days after Punjab Congress MLA and senior party leader Sukhpal Singh Khaira publicly alleged that efforts had been made to secure a favourable forensic report in the matter.
Reacting to the registration of the FIR, Khaira claimed that the latest development had substantiated concerns he had raised earlier.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Khaira said the FIR had lent credibility to his allegations regarding the preparation of what he described as a “fabricated forensic report.” He alleged that attempts were made to influence forensic findings to provide a clean chit in the controversy surrounding the viral video.
The Congress leader demanded a thorough and impartial investigation into the matter and called for accountability of all individuals found responsible for any wrongdoing. He also renewed his political attack on the Punjab government, asserting that the allegations had raised serious questions that required transparent answers.
The controversy stems from a video circulated on social media in October 2025 by an NRI identified as Jagdeep alias Jagmandeep Samra. The video allegedly showed a person resembling Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann in a sensitive setting. The Chief Minister had previously dismissed the footage as fake and misleading.
Police officials have not yet commented on the merits of the allegations contained in the FIR. Investigators are expected to examine the complaint, digital evidence and related communications as part of the probe.
The registration of the case is likely to intensify the political debate surrounding the viral video, with opposition parties seeking answers from the government while investigators work to establish the facts behind the allegations.