The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Manipur government to submit a fresh report on the investigation into leaked audio recordings that allegedly implicate former Chief Minister N Biren Singh in the ethnic violence that engulfed the state in 2023. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, along with Justice Sanjay Kumar, made the direction after perusing a sealed forensic report submitted by the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL).
The forensic report, which was presented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, was examined in court, following which the bench instructed the law officer to consult with senior state officials. “The solicitor general is to take fresh instructions on filing a fresh report after re-examination,” the bench said, adding that the matter will be relisted in the week starting July 21.
While the Solicitor General urged that the matter could now be taken up by the Manipur High Court—citing a return to normalcy—the CJI asserted, “Let us keep the petitioners aside and if something wrong has been done, then let us look into it rather than protecting anyone.”
The hearing relates to a plea filed by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR), which has sought a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into Singh’s alleged involvement in the 2023 ethnic violence. The petition cites audio tapes in which Singh purportedly allows Meitei groups to loot arms from state armouries. “I have annexed transcripts of tape recordings,” advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for KOHUR, told the court, adding that a “truth lab” had confirmed with 93% accuracy that the voice was that of Singh.
The Solicitor General, however, questioned the reliability of the truth lab report and stated that an earlier committee of three high court judges found attempts were being made to “keep the pot boiling.”
Justice Khanna remarked that with President’s Rule currently in place in Manipur, there should be no hurdle in conducting a fair investigation. Bhushan maintained that the probe must remain independent, given that the audio content allegedly revealed “disturbing conversations” in which Singh could be heard instigating violence and shielding perpetrators.
The ethnic clashes, which began in May 2023 following a ‘Tribal Solidarity March’ opposing the Meitei community’s demand for Scheduled Tribe status, have led to over 260 deaths and the displacement of thousands. The violence has deeply divided the Meitei-dominated Imphal Valley and the Kuki-Zo inhabited hill districts.
KOHUR’s plea states that Singh was instrumental in “inciting, organising, and centrally orchestrating the large-scale murder, destruction and other forms of violence against Kuki-dominated areas in Manipur.” It calls for a court-monitored SIT probe to uncover what it describes as a conspiracy “involving the highest functionary of the state.”
The matter will now be taken up again by the apex court in July, pending fresh instructions from the Manipur government.
