The Central Government recently informed the Supreme Court that the forensic report on audio recordings allegedly involving former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh is complete and will be submitted in a sealed cover.
The recordings reportedly link Singh to the ethnic violence that has plagued the northeastern state since 2023.
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar took note of the government’s submission and adjourned the matter to the week commencing May 5.
Court-Monitored
The court heard a petition filed by the Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust, which is demanding a Court-monitored investigation into the leaked clips. The petition claims the voice in the tapes belongs to Biren Singh and contains conversations relating to the handling of ethnic tensions in Manipur.
Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner, told the Court that Truth Labs, a private forensic agency, had already verified the tapes as authentic. In February, the Court directed the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) to conduct an independent examination.
President’s Rule Imposed
In a significant political development earlier this year, the Centre imposed President’s Rule in Manipur in February 2025, nearly two years after ethnic clashes broke out. Just days before the presidential proclamation, N. Biren Singh stepped down from his position as Chief Minister.
The outcome of the forensic analysis, now submitted to the Court, could play a key role in determining whether a formal investigation is launched into Singh’s alleged involvement.
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