'No relief for Munirathna from giving voice sample,' SC declines to consider plea

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to consider a plea by former Karnataka Minister and BJP MLA Munirathna against the direction issued to him to give a voice sample during the investigation of a criminal case.

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta dismissed his special leave petition filed against the Karnataka High Court's order of December 4, 2025, after hearing senior advocates Vikas Singh and Purvish Jitendra Malkan and advocate Anil C Nishani for the petitioner.

Before the High Court, Munirathna assailed the correctness of the order of September 17, 2025 passed by the court of LXXXI Additional City Civil and Sessions Judge, Bengaluru. He also sought for setting aside of the order of January 24, 2025 passed by the Court of XLII Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate and Special Court for trial of cases against sitting/former MPs/MLAs, in the State of Karnataka.

His contention was that the voice sample collected for a probe in a bribery case can be used during the investigation of the caste abuse case.

The High Court, however, said, the sample to be collected would involve making the accused read out certain words or sentences of the transcript which is sought to be relied on by the prosecution. 

"If that were to be so, the transcript of conversation relating to bribe would be distinct from the conversation relating to abuse in the name of caste. This itself would justify that the voice sample separately is to be sent taking note of the portion of conversation that is sought to be relied on, which requires to be tested,'' it said.

The HC also emphasised the manner of conducting investigation would be one to be left in the discretion of investigating agencies, and cannot be dictated by the accused.