Police in Gurugram have registered a criminal case alleging manipulation of forensic evidence related to a viral video purportedly involving Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann. The registration of the FIR created a political storm in the state which is due for elections early next year.

The FIR, the copy of which is with Sher-e-Punjab Radio 600, investigators are examining claims that employees of two private forensic firms were pressured to produce a report declaring the video doctored, regardless of the underlying data.

The case emerged after a whistleblower, identified as Jaspreet aka Jassi, approached police alleging he was instructed to prepare a predetermined “clean chit” report and was offered Rs. 10 lakh (₹1 million) to sign allegedly fabricated documents. He further claimed he faced threats when he questioned the authenticity of the process.

The complainant also said that two persons, who claimed to be the senior officers of Punjab allegedly pressurised him and met him to get the report prepared. 

The FIR is registered under the offences of cheating, cheating by personation and using a forged document or an electronic record. 

The FIR was registered under sections 65 and 66-D of the Information Technology (IT) Act and sections 318(2), 319, 336 (2), 336 (3) and 340 of Bhartiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) at DLF police station in Gurugram, Haryana.  

Senior SAD leader Bikram Majithia alleged that he has proofs that Rs. 10 lakh was given to the complaint for getting a favourable report of the video.