SC questions why full audio clip allegedly linking Manipur unrest to ex-CM not sent to forensics

The Supreme Court on Monday sought an explanation from the government on why the complete audio recording allegedly linking former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh to the state’s ethnic violence was not forwarded to the National Forensic Science University for examination, according to a report by The Hindu.

The bench said it was somewhat concerned after reviewing an affidavit filed on November 20 by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust, which stated that only selected portions of the recording had been sent for forensic analysis, PTI reported.

The recordings, believed to date back to 2023, contained a voice purportedly belonging to Singh that appeared to describe his role in the origins of the conflict. The claimed voice was heard asserting that orders from Union Home Minister Amit Shah against the use of explosives had been ignored and that those who looted large numbers of weapons from state police armouries were protected from arrest.

More than 260 people have been killed and over 59,000 displaced since ethnic clashes between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities erupted in May 2023, with intermittent flare-ups reported through 2024. President’s Rule was imposed in Manipur in February following Singh’s resignation.

The Kuki group further submitted that the Manipur Police had sent only brief, edited excerpts to the forensic laboratory in Gujarat, rather than the full 48-minute audio recording, Scroll.in reported.

The Kuki organisation said the allegation was made in an affidavit filed in response to a laboratory report submitted in October, which had claimed that the audio clips were tampered with and therefore not scientifically suitable for voice comparison.

The laboratory informed the court that it was unable to give an opinion on whether the voice in the recordings belonged to N Biren Singh. The Supreme Court has been hearing a petition by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust, which has sought an independent probe into the audio clips purportedly containing Singh’s voice.

During the hearing on Monday, Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati sought time from the court to file a response to the affidavit. The matter has been listed for further hearing on January 7.

Earlier, in February, advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioner, told the court that the recordings had been examined by an independent forensic firm, Truth Labs. He said the laboratory had concluded with 93% certainty that the voice in the clips was that of the former chief minister.

In August, the Supreme Court ordered that the audio recordings be sent for a fresh forensic analysis to the National Forensic Science University laboratory in Gandhinagar to ascertain their authenticity. The court had said the re-examination would determine whether the clips had been edited, modified or tampered with and whether the voice in the disputed recordings matched an admitted sample, with a clear finding on whether the same person was speaking across all the clips.

The laboratory was directed to submit its findings directly to the court in a sealed cover.