New Delhi, November 3, 2025: The Supreme Court on Monday informed a Kuki rights organisation that a confidential forensic analysis conducted by the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Gandhinagar, has concluded that the audiotapes allegedly containing telephonic conversations of former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh were “modified, edited, and tampered.”
A Bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kumar read out portions of the report in open court while hearing a petition filed by the Kuki Organisation for Human Trust. The tapes, sourced from an anonymous whistleblower, had purportedly suggested that the former Chief Minister was involved in inciting ethnic violence in the State.
Justice Kumar told advocates Prashant Bhushan and Cheryl D’Souza, appearing for the petitioner, that the audio files were “processed and altered,” and therefore “not scientifically fit for voice comparison.” Bhushan, however, referred to a separate analysis conducted by Truth Labs which had claimed a 93% probability match in the voice sample and reported “no breaks” in the recording.
The Bench noted that the NFSU is a premier forensic institution and said there was no reason to doubt its findings. The court directed that the report be shared with both the petitioner and the State of Manipur, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. The petitioner has been granted two weeks to file a response.
During the hearing, Mehta submitted that “the situation in Manipur is now quiet and peaceful.” Bhushan, however, pointed out that the tapes had been in the possession of authorities for over a year but had not been subjected to any official investigation.
The petition before the Supreme Court alleges that the leaked audio clips—reportedly recorded during a closed-door meeting in August 2024—indicate the involvement of the “highest levels of the State machinery” in orchestrating violence in Kuki-Zo dominated areas following ethnic clashes that erupted in May 2023.
The plea seeks a court-monitored Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the leaked recordings. Earlier, Attorney General R. Venkataramani and Solicitor General Mehta had urged the Court not to entertain the petition, arguing that doing so would undermine the authority of the Manipur High Court.
The case will be heard next after the petitioner’s written response is filed.