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NDTV
05-05-2025
- Politics
- NDTV
"No Need To Protect Anyone...": Supreme Court On Manipur Violence Audio Leaks
New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday underlined its resolve to not protect any individual "involved in wrongdoings in relation to the communal violence" that erupted in Manipur in May 2023. A bench led by Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna said this as it heard a plea by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust, or KOHUR, for a court-monitored probe against ex-Chief Minister N Biren Singh over leaked audio clips in which he can allegedly be heard instigating the violence. The remark was made after Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the central government, questioned the credibility of the KOHUR, calling it a "rookie" group. The court, however, dismissed such arguments, stressing, "We are not concerned. Let us ignore the petitioner... but if something wrong has been done, we don't have to protect the wrongdoer." In today's hearing the Chief Justice-led bench was going through a Central Forensic Science Laboratory report on the authenticity of those audio clips. The report had been requested by the court after the government questioned the credibility of an earlier report, from a private lab. The contents of the report - sealed for the court - have not been made public but, interestingly, after examining it, the court told Mr Mehta he would have to "speak to your officers about it". "I have not seen to respond to content," Mr Mehta said, to which the court said, "Read the content and then talk (to the government). Please examine and bring fresh report." The court then set the week beginning July 21 for the next hearing, noting that in the meantime investigations against N Biren Singh will continue and that this will take about a month more. "Now we have President's Rule there... it should not be a problem," the Chief Justice said. Earlier KOHUR, represented by lawyer Prashant Bhushan, termed the contents of the leaks a "very serious matter", and said Mr Singh was purportedly heard saying Meitei groups were allowed to loot arms and ammunition of the state. The petitioner cited a report by a private lab - Truth Labs - that confirmed a 93 per cent match between the voice on the tapes and that of ex-Chief Minister Biren Singh. "Truth Labs reports are far more reliable than the FSL reports," Mr Bhushan had argued. The government's lawyer, however, questioned the veracity of the Truth Labs report. More than 260 people have been killed and thousands displaced since the ethnic violence broke out between the Meitei community and the Kuki tribes in May 2023. Mr Bhushan alleged the recorded conversation prima facie showed the complicity and involvement of the state machinery in the violence against the Kuki Zo community. And KOHUR's plea alleged that Mr Singh - who resigned in February - was instrumental 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 Hindu
05-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
SC peruses CFSL report on audio tapes allegedly featuring ex-Manipur CM Biren Singh, suggests fresh report
The Supreme Court on Monday (May 5, 2025) perused a sealed cover report submitted by a central forensic science laboratory on the veracity of audio recordings allegedly 'establishing complicity' between former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh and the ethnic violence in the northeastern State which led to the loss of many lives. A Bench of Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Sanjay Kumar was informed by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Centre, that the investigation into the allegations were also continuing separately. 'Peace is prevailing in the State. The investigation will go on, no doubt,' Mr. Mehta said. At one point after going through the report, the Bench asked Mr. Mehta to 'talk to the officers' and suggested filing a fresh report. Later, the court recorded in the order that the Solicitor General would take instructions anew on filing a fresh forensic report. The court relisted the case in the week commencing on July 21. Advocate Prashant Bhushan, appearing for petitioner-NGO Kuki Organisation for Human Trust, referred to the prayer in the petition for a court-monitored investigation by a Special Investigation Team into leaked audio clips. 'But now we have the President's rule there [Manipur],' the Chief Justice remarked. Mr. Bhushan indicated that may not be enough. The senior lawyer had in an earlier hearing submitted that Truth Labs report of the audio tapes showed '93% chances that it is his (Mr. Singh) voice'. Mr. Mehta had however sought to dismiss the submission by Mr. Bhushan, saying Truth Labs was a private organisation. Mr. Bhushan had responded that Truth Labs reports were extensively used in court as evidence. The NGO, also represented by advocate Cheryl D'Souza, alleged the 'Chief Minister of Manipur [now the former] was instrumental in inciting, organising and thereafter centrally orchestrating the large-scale murder, destruction and other form of violence against the Kuki-dominated areas in Manipur'. 'In 2023, violence broke out in Manipur due to the clash between the majority Meitei community and the tribal Kukis. Thereafter, in August 2024, an audio of approximately 48 minutes allegedly recorded in a closed door meeting with the Chief Minister was published in various newspapers. The recorded conversation prima facie shows the complicity and the involvement of the State machinery in violence against KukiZo community,' the petition has claimed.
