Mon Feb 03 08:06:47 UTC 2025: ## Supreme Court Seeks Forensic Report on Leaked Manipur CM Audio Tapes
**New Delhi** – The Supreme Court of India has ordered the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) to submit a report on leaked audio tapes allegedly featuring Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh. A petition filed by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) claims the tapes contain evidence of the Chief Minister inciting violence in the state.
The court’s decision follows a hearing where the petitioner’s lawyer, Prashant Bhushan, presented findings from Truth Labs, a private forensic lab, indicating a 93% voice match between the audio and Mr. Singh. However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta argued that the Truth Labs report should not be considered reliable, prompting the court’s request for the CFSL’s independent analysis.
The court, comprised of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar, briefly addressed a potential conflict of interest after Justice Kumar disclosed attending a dinner hosted by the Chief Minister prior to his Supreme Court appointment. Mr. Bhushan stated that this did not necessitate recusal.
The Chief Justice expressed concerns about the veracity of the transcripts and the overall timing of the case, suggesting the matter might be better suited for the High Court. He directed the CFSL to submit its sealed report within a month, with the next hearing scheduled for the week of March 24th.
The Solicitor General also raised concerns about the petitioner’s potential bias, referencing a report by a Supreme Court-appointed committee which highlighted actions by certain civil society groups as potentially destabilizing. The petitioner, KOHUR, is headed by HS Benjamin Mate, a leader of Kuki Inpi, an organization that supports a separate administration for the Kuki people. The investigation into the origin of the leaked audio is ongoing, with authorities reportedly contacting the individual who initially uploaded the clips to X (formerly Twitter).
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