Archive · 4 Nov 2025
Manipur CM Biren Singh 'incite' tapes tampered with: Lab report to SC
Imagine there are some recordings that someone said were made by a leader, Biren Singh, talking about causing trouble during a fight between two groups in Manipur.
Other people listened and said the recordings sounded like him and that he was admitting to things.
But then, a special government lab in Gujarat examined these recordings.
This lab told the country's highest court, the Supreme Court, that the recordings had been changed and messed with, so they couldn't tell if it was really him or what he was saying.
Another private lab, however, said the recordings were real and likely his voice.
The court is now looking at these different opinions and will hear more later.
The National Forensic Science Laboratory (NFSL) in Gandhinagar reported to the Supreme Court that audio tapes, allegedly featuring former Manipur CM Biren Singh discussing the Meitei-Kuki violence, were tampered with.
The NFSL's findings mean the tapes are unsuitable for voice comparison, contradicting a private lab's assessment that the audio was unedited and likely belonged to Biren Singh.
The Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust had petitioned for a court-monitored probe into the tapes, which purportedly contain Singh bragging about defying directives and protecting looters.
The Manipur government had previously dismissed the tapes as 'doctored' and aimed at inciting hatred and derailing peace initiatives.
The Supreme Court has provided the petitioner's lawyer with a copy of the NFSL report for a response, with the next hearing scheduled in two weeks.
- Who
- National Forensic Science Laboratory (NFSL), Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust, Manipur government, Biren Singh
- What
- Report on audio tapes purportedly showing former Manipur CM Biren Singh inciting violence, stating tapes were tampered with.
- When
- Recent Supreme Court hearing on Monday; tapes sent to lab in August.
- Where
- Supreme Court of India; Manipur
- Why
- To determine the authenticity and origin of audio tapes related to the Meitei-Kuki violence.
Kuki Organisations' Claim
Manipur Govt & NFSL Claim
Authenticity of Tapes
Kuki Organisations' Claim
A private forensic laboratory, Truth Labs, concluded the 50-minute audio was unedited and had a 93% probability of being Biren Singh's voice.
Manipur Govt & NFSL Claim
The National Forensic Science Laboratory (NFSL) in Gandhinagar concluded the audio clips were modified and tampered with, making them unfit for voice comparison. The Manipur government dismissed the tapes as 'doctored'.
Government Influence
Kuki Organisations' Claim
Advocate Prashant Bhushan argued that the NFSL is a government lab, potentially under the control of the ruling party.
Manipur Govt & NFSL Claim
The bench acknowledged that the NFSL is a premier forensic lab. Solicitor-general Tushar Mehta emphasized the NFSL's conclusions and advised against disrupting the state's peace.
- Forensic Lab
- National Forensic Science Laboratory (NFSL), Gandhinagar
- Petitioner
- Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust
- Advocate for Petitioner
- Prashant Bhushan
- Government Representative
- Solicitor-general Tushar Mehta
- Previous Lab
- Guwahati FSL
- Previous Manipur CM
- Biren Singh (BJP)