On Thursday, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that a forensic report verifying the authenticity of leaked audio clips, which allegedly link former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh to the state’s ethnic violence, has been completed and will soon be submitted in a sealed cover. A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna acknowledged the statement made by the Centre and the state government’s counsel and decided to postpone the hearing of a petition filed by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) to the week starting May 5.

The counsel explained that the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) report would be submitted by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, but requested a delay as he was currently unavailable.

Singh stepped down as Manipur's chief minister on February 9, following internal unrest within the state BJP and increasing calls for a leadership change. Before this, the Supreme Court had requested a sealed forensic report from the CFSL to verify the authenticity of leaked audio recordings that allegedly linked Singh to the ethnic violence that started in May 2023. The group KOHUR, represented by lawyer Prashant Bhushan, had asked the court to order an SIT investigation into Singh’s alleged involvement in the violence.

The Chief Justice of India remarked, "The state is gradually limping back to normalcy and we will keep it (the matter) on hold at the moment," mentioning that he would decide later whether the Supreme Court or the High Court should take up the case. The solicitor general agreed with these remarks.

Meanwhile, Bhushan called the audio leaks a "very serious matter," claiming that Singh was allegedly heard saying Meitei groups were allowed to take weapons and ammunition from the state government. "I have annexed transcripts of tape recordings," he expressed.

The solicitor general argued that the petitioner had "ideological inclinations" and pointed to a report by a panel of three high court judges, which mentioned attempts to keep the "pot boiling". Bhushan added that "a truth lab confirmed that 93 per cent it is the voice of the chief minister," and emphasised that "truth labs are far more reliable than the FSL reports."

The government’s law officer raised doubts about the accuracy of the truth lab report. Back on November 8 last year, a bench led by former Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud asked KOHUR to present evidence supporting the authenticity of certain leaked audio clips. Advocate Prashant Bhushan had said he would submit a copy of the tape in CD format. However, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta pointed out that the matter could be taken to the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution.

Since the ethnic conflict erupted in May 2023 between the Meitei community from the Imphal valley and the Kuki community from nearby hill areas, over 260 people have been killed and thousands forced to flee their homes.

The violence broke out following a 'Tribal Solidarity March' held in the hill districts to oppose a Manipur High Court order related to the Meitei community’s request for Scheduled Tribe status. Advocate Prashant Bhushan claimed that the audio recordings clearly suggested that the state machinery was involved in the violence targeting the Kuki Zo community. He added that the clips contained "disturbing conversations," in which Singh appeared to be encouraging the violence and shielding those responsible for the attacks.

KOHUR's petition claimed that Singh played a key role in "inciting, organising and thereafter centrally orchestrating the large-scale murder, destruction and other forms of violence against the Kuki-dominated areas in Manipur". The plea stated, "Petitioner is praying for a court-monitored investigation by a special investigation team into the leaked audio tape clips as there is clear and strong prima facie evidence showing involvement of the highest functionary, i.e., the chief minister of a state. The investigation would need to unearth the conspiracy which appears to involve the highest functionary of state."