[Manipur Violence] SC Seeks Forensic Report on Audio Tape Alleging Manipur CM Biren Singh's Role

The Supreme Court of India on Monday sought a report from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) regarding the authenticity of audio clips that allegedly implicate Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh for inciting ethnic violence in the state.

The bench comprising of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar accordingly sought the report in a sealed cover and listed the matter on March 24.

Court passed the following order while dealing with the plea moved by the Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust seeking a court-monitored enquiry into certain leaked audio clips which allegedly implicate Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh for inciting ethnic violence in the state of Manipur.

During the hearing, Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust, submitted before the bench that the non-profit Truth Labs confirmed that 93 per cent of the audio tapes matched Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh's voice.

Refuting the claims, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state argued that the report of Truth Labs cannot be relied upon. He further added that the audio clips have been sent to the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL)

SG Mehta submitted that the petitioners carry baggage and have ideological inclinations, separatist sorts...While referring to the Supreme Court-appointed committee headed by former high court judge Justice Gita Mittal on the Manipur crisis, Mehta highlighted that there is a report about wanting to keep the pot boiling..."

Notably, the court-appointed committee had found many troubling actions by civil society organisations (CSOs) that contributed to prolonged ethnic tensions on the ground.

Background

On August 7, the top court had appointed said committee, headed by Justice Mittal to look into aspects like relief, remedial measures, rehabilitation, restoration of homes and religious places etc.

A bench of CJI DY Chandrachud, Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manoj Misra had further appointed former IPS officer, Dattatray Padsalgikar, who has wide experience to oversee the investigation by CBI.

"...on the 16 FIRs relating to sexual offences to be transferred to CBI..what we propose to do is that, we are not going to supplant CBI, at the same time to make sure there is a sense of faith..we are proposing to direct that there shall be 5 officers at least of Dy. SP rank from various states, who will be brought from different states on deputation to CBI to oversee these investigations...", the bench had further ordered.

In July, the Supreme Court had called out the Manipur state's police forces for carrying out a tardy investigation into the various incidents of violence that occurred throughout the state in the past two months.

Court had further observed that the police had not been in charge of the situation for the last two months and no law and order had been maintained by them.

Notably, the Supreme Court had said earlier that merely handing over the probe into the incident of sexual assault and violence on two women in violence-hit Manipur, to the CBI was not enough.

"..we have to rebuild lives now..so what better way than having some objective assistance of a court-trusted committee..not just the state government..we have to instill confidence now in the people", the court had observed.

The Union government in July had informed the Supreme Court that the "unfortunate and unacceptable" incident of sexual assault and violence on two women in violence-hit Manipur, has been transferred to the CBI.

It had also requested the apex court to transfer the trial in the case outside Manipur with a direction that the trial should be conducted in a time-bound manner within six months after the filing of the chargesheet.

Case Title: KUKI ORGANIZATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS TRUST Vs UNION OF INDIA