Why full audio clip on Manipur violence was not sent to forensics, asks SC

The Supreme Court on Monday (December 15, 2025) asked the government why the entire leaked audio clip, allegedly pointing to the role of former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh in the 2023 ethnic violence, was not sent to Gujarat’s National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU) for examination.

The top court said it was a “little disturbed” by the affidavit filed on behalf of the petitioners on November 20 that “states to the effect that only select clippings were sent” for forensics. The NFSU had virtually given a clean chit, saying the leaked audio clip was “tampered with”.

Mr. Singh resigned as the Chief Minister of Manipur on February 9.

Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the petitioners, said that probably all the audio clips filed by them were not sent to the NFSU. He said the tapes were roughly 56-minute long and the petitioners had filed 48 minutes in the court. He said the remaining part identified the person who made the recording, and if his identity was disclosed, his life could be in danger.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, who appeared in the matter, sought a week’s time to respond to the affidavit.

The court fixed the case for further hearing on January 7.

The apex court was hearing a petition filed by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust, which has sought an independent SIT probe into the contents of the audio clip.