Apex Court Demands Hyderabad Lab Test of UP DIG’s Voice Amid Hate Speech Allegations
(Judicial Quest News Network)
Delhi, 17, February,2026-In a significant order underscoring judicial scrutiny over allegations of communal hate speech, the Supreme Court of India has directed the Telangana Forensic Sciences Laboratory (TGFSL), Hyderabad, to conduct a forensic voice comparison of Uttar Pradesh DIG Sanjeev Tyagi with an alleged audio clip containing anti‑Muslim remarks.
Court’s Directions
A Bench comprising Justice Ahsanuddin Amanullah and Justice K. Vinod Chandran instructed that the forensic report, along with a transcript of the disputed clip, be submitted to the Court in a sealed cover. The Court mandated that DIG Tyagi, who was serving as Superintendent of Police, Bijnor, at the relevant time, appear before the Director of TGFSL on March 9, 2026, at 11:00 a.m. to provide his voice sample.
The Court also permitted petitioner Islam Uddin Ansari, whose mobile phone contained the alleged audio recording, to be present at the laboratory on the same day to assist forensic officials in locating the clip. The Bench further directed the laboratory to ascertain whether any portion of the audio had been deleted from the petitioner’s device.
Clarification on Procedure
The TGFSL had sought a letter of advice along with the transcript to facilitate examination. The Court clarified that no such letter was necessary, as the forensic exercise was being conducted pursuant to its judicial order.
Background of the Case
The matter arises from a petition filed by Islam Uddin Ansari, who was booked under Section 505 IPC and Section 67 of the IT Act for allegedly spreading false rumours during the COVID‑19 pandemic in March 2020. Ansari had forwarded the audio clip to then SP Tyagi, seeking confirmation of its authenticity. Instead, an FIR was lodged against him, accusing him of inciting communal enmity.
A chargesheet was filed, and cognizance was taken by the Chief Judicial Magistrate in 2021. After the Allahabad High Court declined to quash the proceedings, Ansari approached the Supreme Court.
On December 8, 2025, the apex court quashed the criminal case against Ansari, noting that the FIR appeared retaliatory, having been registered after he proposed legal action over the clip. The Court simultaneously directed Tyagi to provide his voice sample to the State FSL, Telangana, for verification against the disputed audio.
Subsequently, on December 12, 2025, the matter was revisited on an interlocutory application seeking modification of the earlier order. The Court was informed that the petitioner’s mobile phone was already in police custody. Accordingly, the Bench directed the SP, Bijnor, to ensure safe delivery of the seized device to the Director of TGFSL, Hyderabad.
Judicial Significance
The Supreme Court’s intervention reflects its determination to ensure that forensic science is employed to establish the truth in sensitive matters involving allegations of hate speech by public officials. By insisting on sealed‑cover submission and direct oversight, the Court has sought to safeguard both the integrity of the investigation and the rights of the petitioner.
