Delhi HC Orders CBI Lab to Probe Disputed Nitin Naresh Audio
The Delhi High Court has ordered a CBI-linked forensic lab to examine a disputed audio recording involving Nitin Naresh to check for AI voice cloning.
The Delhi High Court has stepped in to resolve a high-stakes mystery involving a disputed phone recording that could potentially be an AI-generated clone. In a significant move, Justice Tushar Rao Gedela has directed the Central Forensic Science Laboratory (CFSL), attached to the CBI Headquarters, to conduct a scientific examination of the audio allegedly involving Nitin Naresh.
The court's decision comes at a critical juncture in the BPTP Limited case, where the authenticity of a 12-minute recording has become the central point of contention. The investigation will aim to determine whether the voice heard in the clip is genuine or a sophisticated digital fabrication.
The Allegation: An Extortion Call?
The controversy erupted when BPTP Limited filed an application alleging that the defendants had willfully disobeyed previous court orders. Senior counsel Rajiv Nayar, representing BPTP, claimed that following a court order on September 3, Nitin Naresh engaged in a conversation with Jai Shankar, an authorized representative of the company.
According to the legal team for BPTP, the recording of this conversation appeared to be an extortion attempt, in which money was allegedly sought. The company requested the court to scrutinize the 12-minute audio to establish the facts of the interaction.
The Defense: AI Voice Cloning Technology
Appearing in person before the court, Nitin Naresh vehemently denied that the conversation ever took place. He raised a cutting-edge defense, pointing to the rapid advancement of Artificial Intelligence.
Naresh argued that the recording could very well be a modulated and cloned version of his voice, created using sophisticated voice-cloning technology. He raised formal objections regarding the electronic evidence and insisted that a forensic examination was the only way to establish the true nature of the audio.
Court Directs Forensic Scrutiny
Recognizing the gravity of the allegations and the potential repercussions for all parties involved, the High Court emphasized the need for scientific certainty. The court noted that it would be premature to draw any conclusions regarding the truthfulness of the recording without expert verification.
To facilitate this, the court has ordered the following steps:
- Sealing the Evidence: The disputed recording must be placed in a pen drive, which will be sealed by the Registrar General.
- CBI-CFSL Examination: The sealed pen drive, along with the original recording and the original device used to make the call, must be surrendered to the CFSL at the CBI Headquarters on Lodhi Road.
- Hash Value Verification: The forensic experts are tasked with determining the recording's hash value to ensure data integrity.
- Priority Timeline: The Director of the CFSL has been directed to treat this matter as a priority and submit a detailed report within four weeks.
The final report will be submitted to the High Court in a sealed cover through the Registrar General to maintain the confidentiality of the findings.
Silence Mandated for Nitin Naresh
During the legal proceedings, a notable development occurred when Naresh voluntarily suggested that a gag order could be imposed upon him. Taking note of this statement, the court directed Naresh to maintain silence on the subject matter of the suit until the next scheduled hearing.
It is important to note that the court has made no finding at this stage regarding whether the alleged extortion call actually occurred, or whether Naresh has committed contempt of court. The matter remains entirely dependent on the scientific veracity of the audio. The case is next listed for hearing on November 2, 2026.