The Supreme Court’s warning in May that “institutional credibility is on the line” seems forgotten, as the Biren Singh audio tape case—central to the Manipur violence investigation—remains unlisted past the deadline.
BY PC Bureau
New Delhi, July 30, 2025 —Despite a Supreme Court directive to list the alleged Biren Singh audio tape case in the week beginning July 21, no hearing has taken place, leaving victims of Manipur’s ethnic violence waiting for justice. The delay has prompted renewed frustration and criticism over the judicial handling of a matter with serious communal and political implications.
The case revolves around a set of alleged audio recordings in which former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh is purportedly heard making inflammatory and incriminating remarks with regard to ethnic clashes in the state.
On May 5, 2025, the Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna, directed the Central Forensic Laboratory (CFL) to submit a fresh, conclusive report on the authenticity of the leaked audio clips. The bench had then ordered that the matter be listed for hearing in the week of July 21.
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However, as that week passed with no listing or progress, the case has become what critics call a “classic example of date-pe-date”—a euphemism for repeated delays in the Indian legal system.
The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights (KOHUR), the petitioner in the case, is now preparing to file a fresh plea for early listing, sources close to the group confirmed.
Truth Labs vs CFL: Contradictory Reports
Earlier, Truth Labs, a private forensic agency, had submitted a report in March verifying “with high confidence” that the voice on the tapes was indeed that of Biren Singh. The lab based its conclusion on waveform analysis, pitch contour matching, and linguistic consistency.
CM N. Biren Singh’s leaked audio exposed state involvement in violence — clear voice, clear intent.
The Supreme Court heard the case, yet there’s been no update, no report, no accountability.Top politicians know it’s his voice.
They know his speaking style.
So why is it taking… pic.twitter.com/yoc4UODBx5— Thangminngam Mate KUKI (@PaulMate6) July 28, 2025
In stark contrast, the CFL report, presented in a sealed envelope to the court, was criticized for lacking clarity or definitive findings. During the last hearing, Chief Justice Khanna appeared visibly displeased, asking Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, “What is this FSL report?” The CJI noted that the contents of the envelope had not even been read by the Solicitor General.
“The court is not here to protect any individual involved in wrongdoing,” CJI Khanna said, making it clear that institutional credibility was at stake.
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In that same hearing, the Solicitor General attempted to question the credentials of KOHUR, labeling it a “rookie” petitioner. The court was unswayed. “Let us ignore the petitioner,” said Chief Justice Khanna, “but if something wrong has been done, we don’t have to protect the wrongdoer.”
The bench—also comprising Justice Sanjay Kumar—gave the Union government two weeks to file a revised report and emphasized the urgency due to the public interest and communal sensitivity of the case.
With no update or listing as promised, the silence around the case has renewed fears of judicial apathy, especially for thousands of victims displaced or affected by the May 2023 ethnic violence in Manipur.
For many in Manipur and beyond, the delay is not just procedural—it is deeply political and symbolic of the difficult path to justice in cases involving high-ranking figures.
