Supreme Court Demands Update on Forensic Report Linking Ex-Manipur CM to Violence

Supreme Court's Inquiry into Forensic Delays

On Monday, the Supreme Court raised concerns regarding the absence of a new forensic report that was supposed to verify the authenticity of audio recordings allegedly connecting former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh to the state's ethnic violence. This inquiry follows a request made three months prior, as reported by a legal news outlet.

Earlier in February, the court instructed the Central Forensic Science Laboratory to analyze the audio clips and present its findings confidentially.

After reviewing the initial report, a bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar expressed dissatisfaction with the laboratory's analysis in May, prompting a request for a new report.

The case stems from a petition by the Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust, which has called for an independent investigation into the audio clips that allegedly feature Singh's voice.

In the recordings, a voice resembling Singh's claims responsibility for the origins of the conflict, asserting that he disregarded Union Home Minister Amit Shah's directive against the use of explosives and provided protection to individuals who had seized numerous weapons from police armories.

Since the ethnic clashes erupted between the Meitei and Kuki-Zo-Hmar communities in May 2023, over 260 lives have been lost, and more than 59,000 individuals have been displaced. Violence has continued sporadically into 2024.

Following Singh's resignation, President's Rule was enacted in February.

During the hearing on Monday, a representative for Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who is acting on behalf of the government, requested an additional two weeks to provide the updated report.

The bench responded, urging the counsel to clarify whether the forensic laboratory had completed its analysis. "At this point, the forensic lab should have delivered a report," they stated. "Please inform us if the report is ready or still pending."

When the counsel indicated that the report was still not available, Justice Kumar expressed frustration over the delay, questioning, "How long does it take for the Forensic Science Laboratory to deliver a conclusive voice analysis? This situation cannot continue indefinitely."

The bench postponed the matter to allow the solicitor general to participate, but the case was not revisited that day.