New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday sought a report of the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) on purported audio clips allegedly featuring Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh's statement on the violence in the state which claimed around 200 lives. A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar passed the order demanding a lab report on the audio clips while hearing a plea filed by the Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust, reported The Live Law.

The petition sought an independent investigation into the audio tapes. The next hearing on the matter will be held in March this year. Advocate Prashant Bhushan appeared for the petitioner.

Bhushan submitted that the audio tapes were examined by "Truth Labs", which certified that the voice belongs to Biren Singh by over 93 per cent, reported The Live Law. Bhushan claimed that in the audio clips, the Manipur CM could be heard saying that he allowed Meitei groups to loot the State armoury and that he ensured their protection from arrest.

Meanwhile, Solicitor General of India Tushar Mehta objected to the petition and said that the petitioner should; approach the high court. He added that an FIR was registered into the matter and investigation agencies also approached the Twitter accounts which uploaded the audio clips. He said the tapes were being examined forensically. The SG accused the petitioner of having a "separatist mindset."

"I have not gone into the contents and veracity of the recordings, when will SFL reports come?" CJI Khanna said.

Meanwhile, Bhushan said that the report by "Truth Labs" was more credible.

"Relist in the week commencing on March 24, 2025. It is pointed out that audio clips are sent for examination by CFSL. The report will be produced in sealed cover," the bench observed in the order as reported by The Live Law.

The petition had claimed that a whistleblower recorded Biren Singh's statement that he instigated the violence.

On December 31, 2024, apologised to the people of the state for the violence which started in May 2023 between the Kuki and Meitei communities.