Archive · 4 Nov 2025
Manipur CM Biren Singh's Tapes Altered, Lab Tells Supreme Court
Imagine there were some recordings that might show a leader talking about a big fight between two groups in a place called Manipur.
Some people thought the recordings were real and showed the leader saying he was involved.
So, they sent the recordings to a special science lab to check if they were real.
The first lab couldn't say for sure.
The recordings were then sent to another, bigger lab.
This second lab said the recordings had been changed and messed with, so they couldn't be used to check if the voice was really the leader's.
But, another smaller lab, not connected to the government, said the recordings seemed okay and the voice was probably the leader's.
The government said the recordings were fake and meant to cause trouble.
The Supreme Court is now looking at all these reports and will hear more later.
The National Forensic Science Laboratory (NFSL) in Gandhinagar reported to the Supreme Court that audio tapes allegedly featuring then Manipur CM Biren Singh were modified and tampered with.
The NFSL's findings suggest the tapes are unfit for voice comparison, contradicting a private lab's assessment.
A private lab, Truth Labs, had previously concluded the audio was unedited and likely belonged to Biren Singh with 93% probability.
The Manipur government had dismissed the tapes as doctored and intended to incite hatred.
The Supreme Court is reviewing the NFSL's report and will allow the petitioner to respond before the next hearing.
- Who
- National Forensic Science Laboratory, Supreme Court, Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust, Biren Singh
- What
- A forensic lab report submitted to the Supreme Court stated that audio tapes purportedly featuring then Manipur CM Biren Singh discussing the Meitei-Kuki violence were modified and tampered with.
- When
- Monday (hearing), August (tapes sent to lab), February (Biren Singh resigned)
- Where
- Supreme Court of India, Gandhinagar (NFSL), Manipur
- Why
- The tapes were sent for forensic analysis to determine their authenticity and whether Biren Singh's voice was present, following a petition for a court-monitored probe into the recordings.
Petitioner's Stance
Government's Stance
Authenticity of Tapes
Petitioner's Stance
A private forensic lab, Truth Labs, concluded the 50-minute audio was unedited with a 93% probability of Biren Singh's voice.
Government's Stance
The National Forensic Science Laboratory (NFSL) in Gandhinagar reported the tapes were modified and tampered with, deeming them unfit for voice comparison.
NFSL Credibility
Petitioner's Stance
Argued that the NFSL is a government lab under the ruling party's control.
Government's Stance
Stated that the NFSL is a premier forensic lab whose conclusions should be accepted.
Purpose of Tapes
Petitioner's Stance
Kuki-Zo organizations believe the tapes show Biren Singh's partisan complicity and defiance of Union directives.
Government's Stance
The Manipur government dismissed the tapes as doctored, circulated to incite hatred and derail peace initiatives.
- Forensic Lab
- National Forensic Science Laboratory, Gandhinagar
- Petitioner
- Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust
- Previous Lab
- Guwahati FSL
- Private Lab Mentioned
- Truth Labs
- Alleged Speaker
- Biren Singh (former Manipur CM)
- Subject Matter
- Audio tapes allegedly related to Meitei-Kuki violence