With victims of Manipur violence waiting for answers, the August 19 hearing is seen as a critical test of judicial urgency and institutional accountability.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, August 18: The Supreme Court will again take up on Tuesday the case involving alleged audio tapes of former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh, amid growing concerns that the matter is dragging on in endless adjournments without closure.
On August 4, the Court expressed sharp displeasure at the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) for failing to submit its long-pending forensic analysis of the recordings—despite repeated extensions. The tapes, purportedly linking Singh to ethnic violence in Manipur in May 2023, have already sparked public outrage and political turmoil.
A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar noted the unexplained delay, remarking: “What happened to the forensic report? This order was passed in May 2025. Three months have passed. By now, the forensic laboratory must have given you a report. This cannot go endlessly.”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the government, cited “technical reasons” for the delay but admitted the CFSL report was not yet ready. The bench granted a final two-week extension, fixing the next hearing for August 19, 2025.
The Court’s frustration stems from the stark contrast between CFSL’s inaction and the speed of Truth Labs, a private forensic agency, which submitted its analysis in just 15 days—concluding with 93% probability that the voice on the tape belonged to Singh. The government, however, dismissed that report as inadmissible, insisting only CFSL’s findings would be definitive.
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Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR), condemned the delay as “unjustifiable and suspicious,” accusing authorities of shielding Singh and undermining institutional credibility.
The alleged tapes are explosive: Singh is purportedly heard authorizing Meitei groups to loot armories and evade arrests during last year’s violence. Though Singh resigned in February 2025 under pressure, both state and central governments have dismissed the recordings as “fabricated.”
Supreme Court Fumes as CFSL Drags Feet in Biren Singh Tape Probe#Birensinghtape #CFSL #SupremeCourtofIndia#ManipurViolence #Forensicreport https://t.co/XB2eJiTvIq
— Navin Upadhyay (@Navinupadhya) August 4, 2025
The Supreme Court had ordered CFSL to file its sealed report by March 24, 2025. While one report was eventually submitted in May, it was deemed “inconclusive,” prompting the Court to order a revised analysis. With months gone by, suspicions are only deepening.
For many in Manipur, the case has become symbolic of justice delayed. Kuki-Zo groups accuse the state of foot-dragging to protect political allies, while Meitei organizations call the allegations a smear campaign. On social media, the phrase “date pe date”—immortalized in Bollywood as a synonym for judicial procrastination—has been widely invoked by frustrated citizens.
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As the August 19 hearing approaches, two outcomes loom large: if CFSL confirms the tapes’ authenticity, Singh could face criminal prosecution. If the tapes are ruled fabricated, it will reinforce the BJP’s claim of a political conspiracy.
But for now, the bigger question is whether the Court can break the cycle of extensions and delays. As Justice Kumar warned in the last hearing: “This cannot be open-ended.”
