Manipur Violence: Supreme Court seeks FSL report on whistleblower tapes against CM N Biren Singh

The Supreme Court on Monday sought a report from a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) on the authenticity of the certain audio recordings which allegedly point to Manipur Chief Minister (CM) N Biren Singh's role in the communal violence in the State between the Meitei and Kuki communities..A Bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Sanjiv Khanna and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar said it would like to first see the FSL report and then proceed on the plea moved by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust."I do not know the veracity of the transcript also ... when will the FSL report come? File in six weeks. List on March 24. Let FSL report be placed on sealed cover," the Court said..The Court had initially pondered over whether it should hear the matter directly or let the High Court look into it first."The State (Manipur) is limping back now (after witnessing ethnic clashes in 2023 and 2024). We have to also see if this Court should hear this or the High Court should," CJI Khanna said.Advocate Prashant Bhushan, representing the petitioner, submitted that transcripts of the audio recordings have been place on record before the top court. It is clearly said by the Chief Minister that he allowed arms to be looted by one group, before the Manipur riots took place, Bhushan added.. Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta, meanwhile, questioned the petitioner organization's motive behind filing the plea."Petitioner has ideological inclinations.. Separatists sorts.. There is a report by the three-judge committee. Only to keep the pot boiling (such petitions are filed)," he said..Bhushan replied that the non-governmental forensic lab, Truth Labs has confirmed that 93 per cent the voice in the audio recordings is of the Chief Minister.SG Mehta expressed doubts over the credibility of such a report, whereas Bhushan maintained that the findings by Truth Labs are far more reliable than that of government FSL reports. The Court proceeded to call for a FSL report as well. "Let us first see the FSL report," CJI Khanna said. .Notably, during the hearing Justice Sanjay Kumar also disclosed that he had attended a dinner hosted by the Manipur CM, and asked the petitioner whether he should recuse from hearing the case. "Let me clarify that CM of Manipur had hosted a dinner for me when I was elevated to this court. Tell me if I should hear it," the judge said.Bhushan replied that the petitioner did not have any objection against Justice Kumar hearing the matter..The matter will be heard next on March 24. .[Read Live Coverage]