Manipur violence case: SC questions delay in fresh Forensic Science Laboratory report on Biren Singh tapes

The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the delay in submission of a fresh Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report on the authenticity of some audio recordings that point to the alleged role of former Manipur chief minister N Biren Singh in the violence between the Meitei and Kuki communities in the state.

Raising eyebrows on the delay, a division bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and Satish Chandra Sharma, asked the counsel for the Centre: "What happened to the forensic report? That should have come at least...by now, the forensic report laboratory must have given you a report. At least, tell us whether the report has come or it's still in the pipeline."

When the counsel for the Centre replied that the report had not come yet, Justice Kumar verbally remarked: "How long does it take FSL to give a definite report on the analysis of the voice? ...this can't go on endlessly". The matter was eventually adjourned.


On May 5, a division bench headed by the then Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna had called for a fresh report after perusing the report submitted by FSL, in a sealed cover. The bench had expressed its dissatisfaction with the report and sought for a fresh report.

The development took place during the resumed hearing of a plea filed by the Human Rights Trust, a Kuki organisation. In February, the top court had sought the central FSL's report on the tapes. In February, President's rule was imposed in Manipur, nearly two years after ethnic violence erupted in the state. A few days ahead of the Presidential proclamation, N Biren Singh had resigned as the CM.