The case continues to stir political and legal tension, with advocates for the petitioners citing delays and alleged government interference, while the Centre has maintained that the state’s situation has stabilized and that the controversy should not be allowed to reignite unrest.
BY PC Bureau
November 3, 2025: The controversy over the so-called “Manipur tapes” — alleged audio recordings linking former Chief Minister N. Biren Singh to the 2023 ethnic violence — deepened on Monday, as the National Forensic Science Laboratory (NFSL), Gandhinagar, informed the Supreme Court that the audio exhibits were tampered with. The findings stand in sharp contrast to those of Truth Labs, which had earlier indicated a 93% voice match, and the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), which had declined to verify the recordings.
According to the NFSL report submitted in a sealed cover, the audio clips were “not scientifically fit for voice comparison,” as four of the recordings displayed clear signs of modification. The report stated that the lab could offer “no opinion on similarity or dissimilarity of the speakers in question.”
A Bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Alok Aradhe took note of the findings and directed that NFSL’s final report be furnished to all parties before the next hearing on December 8. The Court also allowed the petitioner, the Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust, to respond to the report’s conclusions.
This latest report directly contradicts an earlier analysis by Truth Labs, a private forensic agency engaged by the petitioner — the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust. Truth Labs had claimed that the 50-minute recording (marked Y1) was unedited and found a 93% probability that the voice matched that of N. Biren Singh, based on control samples.
Adding another layer to the confusion, the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) had said it was “not in a position to verify the recordings”, citing poor quality and lack of clarity.
During the hearing, Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner, argued that the government had sat on the evidence for over a year despite the “very damaging conversations” it contained. He questioned the reliability of government labs, saying, “Truth Labs has a credible record — NFSL may be the premier lab, but it is still a government body.”
READ: Manipur Audio Tape: Six Reasons Why It Should Be Sent to a Foreign Lab
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Union Government, countered that the NFSL’s findings clearly indicated tampering. “We have just shared the conclusions which say that the disputed recordings were tampered with,” Mehta said, cautioning against further intervention as the situation in Manipur was now “quite peaceful.”
The Bench of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Justice Alok Aradhe noted the conflicting conclusions but refrained from commenting on the merits, directing that all parties receive copies of the NFSL report before the next hearing.
. With three agencies now offering three divergent assessments — Truth Labs confirming authenticity, CFSL noncommittal, and NFSL alleging tampering — the “Manipur tape” saga has grown murkier than ever.
