BY PC Bureau
A controversy erupted in Manipur today as social media rumors alleged that Congress leader and advocate Ningombam Bupenda Meitei was representing the petitioner in a high-profile Supreme Court case involving an alleged leaked audio tape linked to former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh.
The claims originated from a Facebook post by one Dilip Nangthombam, who alleged that Meitei, alongside Benjamin Mate, chairman of the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR), had appeared for the petitioner, KOHUR, in the case. Expressing his contempt, Nangthombam labeled Mate a “Kuki instigator.”
The rumor spread rapidly in Imphal, where openly opposing Biren Singh, particularly for a Meitei, is considered unthinkable amid the region’s tense socio-political climate. Nangthombam’s viral post sough to create the impression that the KOHUR’s petition against Biren Singh was politically motivated and backed by the Congress.
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Ningombam Bupenda Meitei, an advocate at the High Court of Manipur and a Congress leader based in Imphal, promptly issued a statement on his Facebook page, denying any involvement. “I am neither a counsel nor an advocate for the petitioner, any party, or the respondent in the alleged leaked audio tape case,” Meitei wrote. “It’s extremely unfortunate to see rumors and false news dragging my name into a case unrelated to me. Neither the petitioner nor the respondent in the Supreme Court case has engaged me as their advocate. I have neither signed their vakalatnama nor met any of the parties involved. Please don’t spread rumors.”
In the political arena, Meitei is deeply involved with the Indian National Congress, serving as a member of the All India Congress Committee (AICC) and part of its Executive Panel on Law, Human Rights, and RTI. He also holds the position of National Vice-Chairman of the All India Fishermen Congress and is a senior spokesperson for the Manipur Pradesh Congress Committee.
Manipur Congress chief Keisham Meghachandra Singh condemned the misinformation, urging those responsible to delete their posts or face legal action. “Neither the Congress party nor Advocate Ningombam Bupenda Meitei are party to the case,” Singh stated, stressing the need to curb fake news.
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Benjamin Mate, chairman of KOHUR, also dismissed the claims. Speaking to Power Corridors, he said, “This is nonsense. Everyone knows that as KOHUR chairman, I’ve approached the Supreme Court to seek an inquiry into the audio tape allegedly involving Biren Singh. There’s no secret about it. But I never hired Bupenda Meitei for this case, which is being led by noted lawyer Prashant Bhushan in the Supreme Court. This is nothing but a canard.”
