The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has escalated political and administrative tensions in Punjab by issuing a summons to IPS officer and Ludhiana Police Commissioner Swapna Sharma. He has been asked to appear in person at the ED office in Chandigarh on October 19. This high-profile development is tied to a contentious viral video featuring Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, which has triggered intense political crossfire and legal scrutiny.
PMLA Summons and Investigation Context
The federal agency issued the summons under sections 50(2) and 50(3) of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), making personal attendance mandatory for the ongoing proceedings. This inquiry stems from an FIR registered by the Gurugram Police and the subsequent arrest of two individuals, Arun Mahendru and Ankit, who are accused of allegedly fabricating fake forensic and cyber analysis reports regarding the viral clip.
The unfolding investigation into the controversial digital forensic reports:
ED summons Ludhiana Police Commissioner Swapna Sharma in connection with Punjab CM's viral video forensic case. #PunjabNews #EDSummons
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Origins of the Controversy and Allegations
The controversy began in late June when Gurugram-based digital forensics expert Jaspreet Singh (Jassi) filed an FIR at the DLF Sector-29 police station in Gurugram. The complainant alleged that senior officials from the Punjab administration and police pressured him to arrange a forensic report declaring the viral video of the Chief Minister to be AI-generated, edited, or fabricated.
According to the complaint, reports were allegedly issued under the names of questionable or non-existent laboratories like Cipher Sentinel Lab and Cyber Yaan. Meanwhile, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) has dismissed the allegations as politically motivated, reiterating that the video in question was a deepfake. With the ED stepping into the probe, further revelations are expected as investigators examine the role of police and administrative officials.
'The Freelance' does not independently verify the authenticity of the claims made in videos circulating on social media platforms. This video remains a subject of widespread discussion online. Video credits: Respective social media handles/creators.
Crime & Legal Desk, The Freelance
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