Centre to Submit Forensic Report on Ex-CM Biren’s Role in Manipur Violence; SC to Decide If High Court Will Hear Case

The report, prepared by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), will be submitted in a sealed cover.

The Centre on Thursday, informed the Supreme Court that it has completed the forensic examination of explosive audio clips allegedly featuring former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh inciting ethnic violence. The report, prepared by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), will be submitted in a sealed cover. Taking note of the submission, the Supreme Court deferred the hearing to the week starting May 5 and said it would later decide whether the High Court should hear the case.

The audio tapes, which allegedly feature Biren’s voice making inflammatory statements and authorising Meitei groups to loot government armories, form the basis of a plea filed by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR). Represented by senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, KOHUR has demanded a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into Singh’s alleged role.

A private analysis by Truth Labs had earlier claimed with over 93% accuracy that the voice in the tapes belonged to N Biren. However, the Manipur government dismissed the tapes as doctored, alleging they were part of a larger attempt to derail peace and destablise the situation in the state.

A Bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna acknowledged submissions from counsel representing both the Centre and the Manipur government. The bench deferred the hearing to the week beginning May 5 after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who is expected to file the report from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), was unavailable and requested an adjournment.

Earlier, on February 10, the Supreme Court had directed the CFSL to verify the authenticity of the leaked audio clips. N Biren Singh resigned as Manipur’s Chief Minister on February 9.

During the hearing, Bhushan insisted the contents of the leaked audio were “very serious” and alleged that Singh was heard in the clips stating that Meitei groups were allowed to loot arms and ammunition. “I have annexed transcripts of the tape recordings,” Bhushan said, urging the court to take the matter seriously.

The solicitor general questioned the accuracy of the Truth Labs report, pointing to ideological inclinations of the petitioner and citing a report by a committee of three high court judges that claimed attempts were being made to “keep the pot boiling” in the state. He also argued that the case could be filed under Article 226 in the High Court.

Despite these objections, Bhushan maintained that the audio recordings indicated the direct complicity of state machinery in the violence against the Kuki-Zo community. “These are disturbing conversations where Singh can be heard instigating violence and shielding the attackers,” he alleged.

KOHUR’s plea asserted that Biren played a central role in “inciting, organising, and orchestrating” the large-scale violence, destruction, and killings that targeted Kuki-dominated areas of Manipur. The plea called for a thorough investigation into what it described as a conspiracy involving the state’s highest-ranking official.

The Supreme Court will now revisit the matter in early May, once the CFSL report is officially submitted. The Chief Justice remarked, “The state is gradually limping back to normalcy, and we will keep the matter on hold for now,” adding that the court will later decide whether it or the High Court should hear the case.

The ethnic clashes, which erupted in May 2023 have claimed over 260 lives and displaced thousands. Violence broke out between the Meitei community and the Kuki community, leading to an enduring humanitarian crisis.

Also Read: “Don’t Want Sympathy…: Homeless Manipur Mother of Three to Centre

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