Audio clips, alleging ex-Manipur CM N Biran Singh's role, tampered: NFSL to SC

The National Forensic Science Laboratory (NFSL), Gandhinagar, has apprised the Supreme Court that the audio recordings that point to the alleged role of former Manipur CM N Biren Singh in ethnic violence, which took place in 2023, were tampered with and not scientifically fit for voice comparison. Therefore, the NFSL has submitted that no opinion on similarity or dissimilarity of the speakers could be offered.

A division bench comprising Justices Sanjay Kumar and Alok Aradhe after perusing the sealed cover report submitted by NFSL, directed that its final report be furnished to the parties."Four exhibits showed signs of modification and tampering. Therefore, they conclude that the clips are altered and do not constitute the original source recording and are not scientifically fit for forensic voice comparison," Justice Sanjay Kumar read from the NFSL report. "Consequently, no opinion on similarity and dissimilarity of the speakers in question and the control clips can be offered," the bench added.

Appearing on behalf of the petitioner Kuki Organization for Human Rights Trust, Advocate Prashant Bhushan referred to a separate forensic report prepared by Truth Labs, which found that the 50-minute recording was unedited and indicated a 93% probability that the voice matched that of the same person in the control sample. To this, Justice Kumar responded that the petitioner would be furnished with the NFSL report so that a response could be filed. The bench listed the case for resumed hearing on December 8.

Appearing on behalf of the Centre, Solicitor General Tushar Metha said that the NFSL report itself found tampering in the disputed recording. 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.