'Can't Go Endlessly' : Supreme Court Questions Delay In Forensic Report On Tapes Alleging Biren Singh's Role In Manipur Violence

The Supreme Court today(August 4) asked why a fresh forensic science laboratory report ("FSL Report") on the authenticity of the audio clips allegedly implicating former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh in the State's ethnic violence has not been submitted even after 3 months since the Court passed an order for it. In April, a bench comprising former Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar, while hearing a petition filed by Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust seeking a Court-monitored investigation into certain leaked audio clips, allegedly in the voice of Biren Singh, after expressing dissatisfcation with the report submitted by the Central FSL, had asked for a fresh FSL report.Before a bench comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, Advocate Prashant Bhushan, for the petitioner organisation, stated that it's been a year since the recordings surfaced. At the outset, Justice Kumar asked the Union of India: "We asked for the fresh forensic report."A Counsel on behalf of Solicitor General Tushar Mehta sought 2 weeks time. To this, Justice Kumar responded: "What happened to the forensic report? That should have come at least. This order was passed in May 2025. Three months have passed. By now, the forensic report laboratory must have given you a report. At least tell us whether the report has come or it's still in the pipeline."When the Counsel responded that the report had not come, Justice Kumar questioned the delay. He said: "How long does it take FSL to give a definite report on the analysis of the voice? We will pass it over. This can't go endlessly."The matter was passed over so that the SG could appear, but the matter was not taken up.In February, the Court had sought the report of the Central FSL on the tapes. The petitioner's counsel, Advocate Prashant Bhushan, had told the bench that Truth Labs, a private forensic laboratory, had certified the tapes to be authentic.In February, President's rule was imposed in Manipur, nearly two years after ethnic violence erupted in the State. A few days ahead of the Presidential proclamation, Singh resigned.Previously, a bench comprising then Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwal and Justice Manoj Misra asked the petitioner to produce materials indicating the authenticity of the audio clips. Following that, the petitioner submitted the analysis of Truth Lab.Case Details: KUKI ORGANIZATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TRUST Vs UNION OF INDIA|W.P.(C) No. 702/2024 Click Here To Read/Download Order

'Can't Go Endlessly' : Supreme Court Questions Delay In Forensic Report On Tapes Alleging Biren Singh's Role In Manipur Violence

Gursimran Kaur Bakshi

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