Manipur violence: SC seeks forensic report over audio clips against CM-OxBig News Network

Saying the state was “limping back to normalcy”, the Supreme Court on Monday sought a sealed-cover forensic report on the authenticity of leaked audio clips alleging the role of Manipur Chief Minister Biren Singh in the ethnic violence.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar sought the report from the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) within six weeks and posted the plea by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust (KOHUR) for March 24.

KOHUR, represented by advocate Prashant Bhushan, sought a court-monitored SIT probe into the alleged role of the chief minister in the ethnic violence.

Justice Sanjay Kumar, who was the chief justice of the Manipur High Court before being elevated to the top court, said, “The chief minister of Manipur had hosted a dinner for me when I was elevated to this court, so if you have an issue with me hearing the matter then you can tell me….” Bhushan said he did not have a problem.

“The state is gradually limping back to normalcy and we will keep it (the matter) on hold at the moment,” the CJI said. The bench would later see whether the top court or the high court should hear the case.

Solicitor general Tushar Mehta, appearing for the state, was in agreement with the observations.

Bhushan, however, termed the contents of the audio leaks a “very serious matter”.