Ukhrul, November 4: A confidential report by the National Forensic Sciences University (NFSU), Ahmedabad has concluded that the audio clips submitted by a Kuki rights organization alleging that former Manipur Chief Minister N. Biren Singh had incited ethnic violence were tampered with and “not scientifically fit” for voice comparison.
A Bench headed by Justice Sanjay Kumar read the NFSU report aloud in court as the parties awaited its findings. Addressing advocates Prashant Bhushan and Cheryl D’Souza, appearing for the Kuki Organisation for Human Trust, Justice Kumar quoted the report dated October 10, 2025:
“Four exhibits showed signs of modification and tampering. Therefore, the clips are altered and do not constitute the original source recording and are not scientifically fit for forensic voice comparison.”
In response, Advocate Bhushan cited results from Truth Labs, India’s first full-service non-government forensic laboratory. Truth Labs’ analysis reportedly found the 50-minute sample “unedited,” with a 93 percent probability that the voice matched that of Biren Singh.
Bhushan defended the lab’s credentials, but the court remarked, “We don’t know because this (NFSU) is supposed to be the premier forensic lab.”
The Bench directed that the NFSU report be shared with both the petitioner and the State of Manipur, represented by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta.
Bhushan then raised concerns about the NFSU’s government ownership, noting that “more than a year and half ago it was sent to the government and yet it remains uninvestigated by the government despite the very very damaging conversations”
Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the Centre, responded:
“We have just shared the conclusions in that report which say that the disputed recording has been tampered with.” He also pointed out that the state is “now quite peaceful” and “let’s not meddle with that”.
The plea sought an independent investigation based on the tapes into Biren Singh’s alleged role in the violence, which has claimed more than 200 lives in Manipur since last May.
On August 7 2024, the Kuki Students’ Organisation (KSO) released excerpts and transcripts of the recordings in a press statement, which were soon amplified across social media. The Manipur government dismissed the clips as fake, claiming they were circulated “to derail peace initiatives.”
According to The Wire, the purported recordings were allegedly made during a meeting at the Chief Minister’s official residence, where he reportedly made statements suggesting partisan involvement in the ongoing ethnic violence.
The material was also submitted to the Commission of Inquiry set up by the Union Home Ministry to investigate the 2023 ethnic conflict, along with an affidavit attesting to its authenticity. The individual(s) who made the recordings have reportedly sought protection and anonymity from the Commission.
Following The Wire’s exposé Ten MLAs from the Kuki community nine of whom belong to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) urged the Commission to “expedite its process” and demanded that Biren Singh be “immediately debarred from the office of the chief minister so that he is prevented from intervening the outcome of the probe against him.”