On April 17, the Supreme Court will review alleged audio recordings where former Manipur CM Biren Singh is purportedly heard making inflammatory remarks linked to the state’s ethnic violence. KOHUR, the petitioner, hopes the hearing will bring truth and justice for the victims, especially after a forensic lab suggested the voice belongs to Singh.
BY PC Bureau
The Supreme Court is set to hear a crucial case on April 17th, presented by the Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR), concerning alleged audio tapes implicating former Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh in the ethnic violence that erupted on May 3, 2023. The case, KUKI ORGANIZATION FOR HUM… Vs. UNION OF INDIA AND ANR., is listed as Item No. 19 in Court No. 1.
KOHUR alleges these tapes contain Singh’s voice making inflammatory statements that fueled the conflict, which has resulted in over 200 deaths. Benjamin Mate, Chairman of KOHUR, expressed urgency, stating, “I have full faith in the judiciary. I can only pray that the SC will not allow Biren Singh and the central government to drag this case any longer.”
The Supreme Court previously directed the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) to authenticate the tapes. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing KOHUR, cited a private forensic analysis by Truth Labs, which concluded with over 93% accuracy that the voice belongs to Singh. The recordings reportedly capture Singh admitting to authorizing Meitei groups to loot state armories and protecting them from arrest.
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“I only fear that Biren Singh and people in the central government who are supporting him will try to subvert the course of justice by delaying expeditious decision. The Truth lab had already revealed that the voice in the audio tape belonged to Biren Singh. The truth has a strange way of coming to surface, and Biren Singh has reason to worry. So all they could try is to buy time,” Mate told The Power Corridors.
The Manipur government has dismissed the tapes as fabricated, accusing those spreading them of attempting to undermine peace efforts. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing Manipur, was instructed to submit the CFSL report.
The leaked tapes have triggered significant political controversy, with opposition parties, including Congress, demanding Singh’s resignation and accusing the BJP-led government of shielding him. They have called for an independent investigation into his alleged role in the violence. Singh denies involvement and claims the tapes are doctored.
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The CFSL report is considered pivotal in determining the tapes’ authenticity and Singh’s potential culpability. Following a delay in the originally scheduled March 24th hearing, KOHUR requested an expedited listing, underscoring the case’s urgency. The Supreme Court has acknowledged the seriousness of the matter, emphasizing the need for a swift resolution.
