Audio tapes linking ex-CM Biren Singh to deadly ethnic violence in Manipur are under scrutiny, as a Supreme Court case brought by KOHUR intensifies. A Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory report may prove pivotal.
BY PC Bureau
The Centre on n Thursday, April 17, 2025, informed the Supreme Court that a forensic report on the authenticity of leaked audio clips allegedly implicating former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in the ethnic violence that erupted in May 2023 is complete and will be submitted shortly in a sealed cover.
The audio tapes, allegedly featuring Singh’s voice making inflammatory statements and authorizing Meitei groups to loot armories, are central to a plea filed by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR). Represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan, KOHUR has called for a court-monitored SIT probe into Singh’s alleged role. A private analysis conducted by Truth Labs had previously identified the voice in the recordings as Singh’s with over 93% accuracy.
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A Bench led by Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna noted the Centre and State’s submissions and deferred the hearing to the week of May 5. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, expected to file the CFSL report, was unavailable, prompting the adjournment request.
KOHUR Chairman H.S. Benjamin Mate has consistently urged a speedy resolution, warning that Singh and his allies in the central government may attempt to delay proceedings. “Justice delayed is justice denied. All they can do now is try to buy time,” Mate stated.
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Singh resigned as Chief Minister on February 9 amid internal dissent within the BJP and mounting public pressure. The Manipur government has dismissed the tapes as doctored, alleging attempts to derail peace efforts. Meanwhile, opposition parties, including the Congress, have demanded a thorough investigation and accused the BJP-led government of shielding Singh.
The Supreme Court had initially directed the Central Forensic Sciences Laboratory (CFSL) to authenticate the audio clips on February 10. With more than 200 deaths attributed to the 2023 ethnic violence, the CFSL’s sealed report is expected to be pivotal in establishing Singh’s potential culpability. The case, Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust vs. Union of India & Anr., is listed as Item No. 19 in Court No. 1.
The CFSL report carries serious legal and political implications for both Biren Singh and the broader discourse surrounding the 2023 ethnic violence in the state. If the CFSL confirms the authenticity of the leaked audio tapes and attributes the voice to Singh, it could serve as critical evidence in establishing his direct complicity in instigating or facilitating the violence. Such a finding would strengthen the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust’s plea for a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) and could pave the way for criminal proceedings against Singh.
Beyond the individual case, the report could also intensify scrutiny of the central government’s role in managing the Manipur crisis, especially amid accusations of political shielding and delayed justice. A verified link between the former chief minister and violent Meitei groups would challenge official narratives and potentially galvanize public and political pressure for broader accountability. With over 200 lives lost, the CFSL’s findings may become a litmus test for the judiciary’s resolve in addressing ethnic violence and impunity in conflict-hit regions.
