Supreme Court Puts Statement Recording on Hold in Manipur Viral Video Case

New Delhi, August 1, 2023: The Supreme Court of India, in a significant move, ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to suspend the recording of statements from the two women victims involved in the infamous Manipur viral video case. The court has scheduled further proceedings at 2 pm.

The order came after the women, who were subjected to a heinous incident in Manipur, sought an injunction against the CBI from recording their statements.

On the preceding day, the Supreme Court termed the case “horrendous” and proposed the establishment of a committee comprising retired judges to supervise the ongoing investigation. The court expressed dissatisfaction with the police’s delay in registering an FIR (First Information Report) for the incident, questioning why it took 14 days to do so.

Chief Justice of India (CJI) Chandrachud voiced astonishment at the lack of concrete data from the state regarding the number of FIRs and their classification. He stressed the need to ascertain the status of 6,000 FIRs, including zero FIRs and those forwarded to the jurisdictional magistrate. The CJI also emphasized the importance of understanding the actions taken, the number of cases involving sexual violence, the provision of legal aid, and the total count of recorded 164 statements.

He further highlighted that the Manipur viral video incident cannot be treated as an isolated offense, labeling it as a manifestation of systemic violence. The victims alleged that the police handed them over to the mob, making it distinct from the “Nirbhaya” case. The CJI underscored the necessity for a “healing touch” in the state, which has already witnessed more than 120 fatalities due to ethnic clashes.

The Supreme Court took suo moto cognizance of the issue on July 20, after the video showing the appalling mistreatment of two women in Manipur circulated widely. The court’s interventions aim to bring justice and accountability for the victims and address the larger issue of systemic violence in the state.