Supreme Court seeks forensic report on ‘leaked audio tapes’ allegedly linking Manipur CM Biren Singh to ethnic violence

The petitioner, Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust, has sought an independent investigation based on the tapes into Biren’s alleged role in the violence, which has killed more than 200 people in Manipur since May 2023. The Manipur government has termed the clips as fake and said that they were released on social media in an attempt to derail peace initiatives.

“It is pointed out that audio clips have been sent for examination by the CFSL. The report would be produced in sealed cover before the court on the next date of hearing,” the court directed.

At the very outset, CJI Khanna told Advocate Prashant Bhushan, who appeared for the petitioner, “There are two things. One — the state is gradually limping back to normalcy. We will keep it on hold. The second issue is whether we should entertain it or the High Court should entertain it.”

Bhushan said the transcripts of the tapes were “very serious” and implicated the CM. The CJI said he had not gone through the transcripts.

Bhushan said the petitioner had sent the tapes to Truth Labs which has “far more expertise and credibility than CFSL…” and that the lab had said it was “his (Biren’s) voice” in the tapes.

SG Mehta pointed out that Truth Labs was run by private individuals. He said the “petitioner has some ideological inclinations” and that the court-appointed committee of former judges has filed reports saying “these civil society organisations are wanting to keep the pot boiling… That appears to be the intention. Let that not happen.”

Mehta was referring to the Justice Gita Mittal Committee, which was constituted by the SC last August to address the humanitarian concerns stemming from the violence.

Mehta said an FIR had already been lodged in August and the petition was filed in November: “My objection is not delay only but we said that whatever they have supplied has been sent to CFSL and a report is awaited. Whoever has uploaded on their Twitter (X) account, we have approached them also (asking) if you have the original, please give it to us so that (its veracity can be checked).”

The CJI said, “We are careful. That’s why I said in the beginning itself. This should not become another issue.”

“At the same time, I don’t know the contents of the transcripts, and the veracity also. That’s for you people to examine… Let the FSL report come,” the CJI added.

Meanwhile, the SC made it clear that the state’s objection as to why the petitioner could not have approached the HC will remain open and Monday’s order will have no bearing on it.