Supreme Court seeks fresh report from Manipur on probe into alleged audio clips of ex-CM Biren Singh

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL) to file a fresh, detailed report on certain leaked audio tapes, which allegedly implicated former Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh for instigating ethnic violence in the state.

A bench of Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Sanjay Kumar scheduled the matter for hearing in the week starting July 21.

A petition was filed by the Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust seeking an independent investigation into the audio tapes. It sought a court-monitored investigation into the alleged audio clips.

During the course of the hearing, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Manipur government, submitted that the FSL report has been submitted in a sealed cover.

"We have the sealed cover FSL report, the High Court can also examine it. Peace is prevailing,” Mehta said.

He urged the court to let the investigation go on, rather than escalate the situation any further.

After going through the report, the bench told Mehta, "You have to talk to the officers about it (report). Read the content and then talk to the offices, please examine and bring a fresh report."

The Centre had on April 17 apprised the Supreme Court that a forensic report on the authenticity of leaked audio clips alleging the role of former Manipur chief minister in the ethnic violence in the state was ready and would be filed shortly in a sealed cover.