New Delhi, Dec. 16 -- The Supreme Court on Monday questioned the Manipur government authorities why the entire audio tape containing material alleging complicity of former chief minister N Biren Singh in the ethnic riots was not sent for forensic examination. The issue was pointed out in a petition filed by a Kuki Organisation for Human Rights Trust on November 20.

The case pertains to a 48 minutes and 46 seconds audio clip revealing the alleged involvement of the former CM in fuelling the ethnic clashes between Meitei and Kuki communities in Manipur.

Seeking a response from the government, a bench of justices Sanjay Kumar and Alok Aradhe said, "If the entire tape was available with you, it should have been sent for forensic examination...