In a significant development, the Supreme Court of India has mandated a comprehensive forensic examination of a controversial 48-minute audio recording. This tape allegedly captures former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh discussing matters related to the devastating ethnic violence that rocked the state in 2023.
Court Directs National Forensic Science University
The apex court bench, on Wednesday, directed the National Forensic Science University (NFSU) in Gandhinagar to undertake a detailed analysis. The order specifies that the forensic experts must examine the entire 48-minute conversation alongside the admitted voice samples of N Biren Singh. The court has instructed that all findings be submitted in a sealed cover.
"The entire 48 minutes of the conversation in question along with the admitted voice recordings of the former Manipur CM are available... All the voice recordings furnished to the respondents by the learned counsel for the petitioner shall also be included therewith and forwarded to the National Forensic Science University Gandhinagar," the bench ordered.
Case Gains Momentum with Full Transcript
The petition, which has been listed for hearing approximately ten times, received fresh impetus when advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights (KOHUR) Trust, presented the complete transcript of the audio in court. The state government, represented by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, confirmed it had only recently received the full recording.
This new directive for a full forensic audit follows an earlier controversy. The NFSU had initially provided a report giving a clean chit, stating the audio clips were tampered with. In December, the Supreme Court had expressed serious concern that only selected portions of the audio were analyzed previously, instead of the complete recording.
Allegations and Context of the 2023 Violence
The petition alleges that former Chief Minister N Biren Singh played a key role in the violence targeting the Kuki-Zo tribal community. According to Prashant Bhushan, the recorded conversation suggests the involvement of state machinery in the ethnic clashes. The violence, which began in May 2023, resulted in the deaths of over 260 people and displaced tens of thousands.
The conflict erupted after a 'Tribal Solidarity March' was organized to protest a Manipur High Court order concerning the Meitei community's demand for Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. N Biren Singh resigned as chief minister in February 2024 amid sustained political pressure. The KOHUR Trust has accused him of orchestrating violence in areas dominated by the Kuki community.
The Supreme Court's order for a thorough, unbiased forensic examination by a premier institute marks a critical step towards seeking clarity and accountability in a case that has profound implications for justice and peace in Manipur.
