The Supreme Court on Monday took stock of a forensic analysis related to controversial audio recordings allegedly implicating former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in the 2023 ethnic clashes that ravaged the northeastern state.
The recordings reportedly feature Singh making inflammatory remarks and hinting at the use of armed force.
Forensic Report Reviewed In Sealed Cover
A bench headed by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar opened a sealed cover report submitted by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory. The Solicitor General, Tushar Mehta, presented the findings and sought additional time to further investigate the matter. “We need a month to complete the probe,” Mehta stated, also suggesting that the Manipur High Court could now handle the case since peace had largely returned to the region.
Taking this into consideration, the bench directed Mehta to obtain updated instructions from state officials and ordered that a revised report be filed. The case is now scheduled for hearing during the week beginning July 21, 2025.
The Investigation
Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR)—the petitioner in the case—pressed for an impartial investigation, stressing that the involvement of a former chief minister necessitated a court-monitored probe.
Responding to these concerns, CJI Khanna observed that since President’s Rule had been imposed in the state, the issue of political interference no longer posed a significant obstacle.
Serious Allegations From Leaked Audio
The dispute arose after a series of leaked audio clips allegedly captured Biren Singh discussing the distribution of arms to Meitei groups and encouraging violence against the Kuki-Zo community. Bhushan submitted transcripts of these clips and asserted that independent voice verification confirmed a 93% match with Singh’s voice.
He labeled the content of the recordings as deeply disturbing and said they suggested clear complicity of the state’s top leadership in the ethnic unrest. Over 260 people have reportedly died since the violence began in May 2023, with thousands displaced across Manipur.
State Counters With Doubts Over Evidence
The Solicitor General, however, questioned the reliability of the voice verification analysis cited by the petitioners, arguing that such “truth lab” findings lacked the credibility of certified forensic reports. He also pointed to reports indicating an attempt by certain groups to keep tensions alive in the region.
Previously, the apex court had directed the petitioner to submit evidence supporting the authenticity of the audio. Bhushan had promised to provide the recordings in CD format for verification.
Petition Demands Court-Monitored SIT
KOHUR has called for the formation of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), under court supervision, to probe what it claims is a systematic, state-led orchestration of violence against the tribal population. According to the petition, Singh was not only complicit but was directly involved in “planning, encouraging, and facilitating” the attacks on the Kuki community.
The petition warns that without independent scrutiny, the full extent of the alleged state-sponsored violence may remain buried.
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