Gurugram Police expand Bhagwant Mann video probe, Punjab IPS officers may be summoned

The investigation into the controversial viral video allegedly linked to Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann has entered a new phase, with Gurugram Police preparing to question certain Punjab IPS officers whose names have surfaced during the probe, sources said.

According to investigators, CCTV footage and other evidence collected from a luxury hotel in Gurugram have prompted police to examine the role of several senior officials in relation to an alleged forensic report that described the video as a deepfake. The report itself has become the subject of a criminal investigation, leading police to widen the scope of their inquiry.

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The controversy began after a video circulated on social media allegedly showing a man sprinkling alcohol on photographs of Sikh Gurus. The clip triggered a political storm across Punjab and Haryana, with competing claims over its authenticity. While some alleged that the person in the video was the Punjab Chief Minister, others maintained that the footage had been digitally manipulated.

As part of the ongoing investigation, Gurugram Police arrested cyber experts Jaspreet Jassi and Arun Mahendru, along with another accused identified as Ankit. The accused have been questioned regarding the preparation and circulation of the forensic assessment linked to the viral video.

Sources said investigators are now focusing on meetings and interactions that allegedly took place at Gurugram’s Crowne Plaza hotel. Police are examining CCTV footage, visitor records and other digital evidence after reportedly finding indications that certain Punjab officials were present at the location during a crucial period of the investigation.

Officials familiar with the case said police may soon formally summon the officers concerned to record their statements and determine whether they had any role in commissioning, facilitating or discussing the disputed forensic analysis. However, no official charges have been announced against any IPS officer so far.

Meanwhile, Jaspreet Jassi, a digital forensic expert from Punjab’s Mansa district, has emerged as a key figure in the investigation and is understood to be cooperating with investigators. Sources said his statements are being examined alongside digital records collected during the probe.

The family of Arun Mahendru has rejected the allegations against him and claimed he has been falsely implicated. His father said Mahendru, a cybersecurity professional associated with the Haryana Parivar Pehchan Authority, was taken for questioning while the family was away from home. The family has maintained that the matter has political dimensions and insisted that he had no involvement in any wrongdoing.

Individuals familiar with Mahendru’s professional background described him as an experienced cyber and information technology consultant with expertise in artificial intelligence and digital systems. Officials associated with the authority confirmed that he has been working there as a consultant for several years.

Sources indicated that the investigation remains active and that further action could follow after police complete the questioning of all individuals linked to the alleged preparation of the forensic report. Gurugram Police has not issued a detailed public statement on the matter, saying only that the probe is continuing and that all relevant evidence is being examined.