Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s troubles have deepened after the BJP accused his government of using a fabricated forensic report in connection with a viral video that allegedly showed him sprinkling alcohol on images of Sikh gurus.

The controversy had already escalated last week when the Akal Takht, the highest temporal authority of Sikhs, declared Mann “anti-Sikh” over the clip. In response, the Punjab government released what it described as a forensic analysis from two labs, claiming the footage was fake and that the person seen in the video was not the Chief Minister.

But the matter took a dramatic turn after Gurugram Police registered a case over the alleged fabrication of that report and arrested two men linked to the episode. Investigators said they had uncovered an alleged plot to manipulate digital evidence by preparing a bogus forensic and cyber analysis document tied to the viral video case.

The BJP has now intensified its attack, accusing the Mann government of misusing senior Punjab Police officers to obtain a report tailored to clear the Chief Minister’s name. Party leader Manjinder Singh Sirsa alleged that top officials, including Ludhiana Police Commissioner Swapan Sharma and SP Jashandeep Singh, were involved in securing the questionable report.

According to Gurugram Police, the complainant alleged that he was contacted by people claiming to be senior Punjab government functionaries and was pressured to prepare a forensic report with a pre-decided conclusion — specifically one that would deny Mann’s presence in the video and discredit the allegations. The complainant further claimed he was linked to various cyber and forensic entities for the purpose and was allegedly promised a hefty payment, including Rs 10 lakh in cash, while being asked repeatedly to modify the report to fit a desired narrative.

Police on Tuesday arrested two accused — Ankit from Delhi and Arun from Panchkula — in connection with the case.

Using the fresh developments to corner the AAP government, the BJP has demanded Mann’s resignation and immediate arrest. Sirsa alleged that the case had exposed a wider pattern of “forgery and fabrication” and claimed to possess messages purportedly exchanged between Punjab Police officials and the accused that, according to him, reveal how the report was arranged. He also alleged that money changed hands during meetings held at a hotel in Gurugram.

The BJP leader further questioned the silence of AAP national convenor Arvind Kejriwal, asking why he had not spoken out on what he called an insult to Sikh sentiments and the Akal Takht.

Before the forgery allegations surfaced, Mann had maintained that the viral video was part of a political conspiracy to tarnish his image. He had insisted the clip was doctored and warned that those behind it would face action. The report released by his government had similarly asserted that technical analysis showed the man in the video was not him.

With the Gurugram Police probe now casting doubt on that defence, the row has taken on a far more serious dimension, giving Mann’s political opponents fresh ammunition and adding to the pressure on the Punjab Chief Minister.