A view of Supreme Court of India. File
| Photo Credit: The Hindu
The Supreme Court informed a Kuki rights organisation on Monday (November 3, 2025) that a confidential report filed by the National Forensic Sciences University at Gandhinagar in Gujarat has concluded that audiotapes, sourced from a whistleblower claiming they contain telephonic conversations of former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh inciting ethnic conflict, are “modified, edited and tampered”.
A Bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kumar read the report of the premier University in the court room as the parties waited on.
Justice Kumar then addressed advocates Prashant Bhushan and Cheryl D’souza, appearing for Kuki Organisation for Human Trust, that the audio tapes were “processed and altered” files, and not “scientifically fit for voice comparison”.
Advocate Bhushan responded to the information by referring to the results of the tests conducted by Truth Labs on the audiotapes claiming there were “no breaks” in the recording with 93% voice probability.
Justice Kumar said the Gandhinagar University was considered the best and there was no reason to suspect its findings. The Bench ordered the report to be shared with both the petitioner and the State of Manipur, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
93% probability that voice in leaked audio is of Manipur CM: Truth Labs
The top law officer said “it is now quiet and peaceful” in Manipur. The court allowed the petitioner to file a response to the University report in two weeks. Mr. Bhushan submitted that the audiotapes were sent to the government over a year ago, “yet it had remained uninvestigated”.
The Kuki organisation had alleged that the audio tapes, shared by an anonymous whistleblower, contained telephone conversations held by the former Chief Minister “establishing complicity of the highest functionary and others in ethnic violence in the State of Manipur”.
The petition had sought the Supreme Court to order a court-monitored investigation by the Special Investigation Team into leaked audio clips.
Both Attorney General R. Venkataramani and Solicitor General Tushar Mehta had initially urged the court to not take up the case and dent the majesty of the State High Court.
The NGO had alleged the “Chief Minister of Manipur was instrumental in inciting, organising and thereafter centrally orchestrating the large-scale murder, destruction and other form of violence against the Kuki-dominated areas in Manipur”.
“In 2023, violence broke out in Manipur due to the clash between the majority Meitei community and the tribal Kukis. Thereafter, in August 2024, an audio of approximately 48 minutes allegedly recorded in a close door meeting with the Chief Minister was published in various newspapers. The recorded conversation prima facie shows the complicity and the involvement of the State machinery in violence against Kuki-Zo community,” the petition had claimed.
Published – November 03, 2025 01:18 pm IST
