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The top court called the case against Islamuddin Ansari, who privately sent the clip to the police officer for verification, “a total abuse of authority and court process”.

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The Supreme Court on Monday ordered a senior Uttar Pradesh police officer to provide a voice sample for forensic analysis over an audio clip in which he is alleged to have made derogatory remarks about Muslims, while quashing criminal proceedings against a 73-year-old man who had questioned him about the recording.

The court directed Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Sanjeev Tyagi to submit his voice sample to the State Forensic Science Laboratory in Hyderabad. Tyagi was Superintendent of Police in Bijnor in March 2020 when the audio began circulating.

The bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and K. Vinod Chandran said the criminal case filed against Islamuddin Ansari — who had privately forwarded the clip to Tyagi seeking confirmation of whether the voice was his — was “a total abuse of authority and of the process of the Court.”

Ansari, a resident of Dehradun, was booked under provisions of the Indian Penal Code and the Information Technology Act after the clip was sent from his phone. Police alleged the message could incite communal tension during the COVID-19 lockdown.

According to court filings, officers entered Ansari’s home on the day the case was registered, brought him to Bijnor for questioning and seized his phone. A chargesheet filed in July 2020 accused him of circulating material capable of provoking religious unrest. A magistrate took cognisance of the case in 2021, prompting Ansari to seek relief from higher courts.

The Supreme Court criticised the police response, noting that Ansari had privately messaged the officer and had not published the audio. The judges said he was entitled to approach the court again if he faced further pressure or harassment.

The Uttar Pradesh government told the bench it had already moved to withdraw the case against him.

The court will review compliance with its directions at the next hearing on Jan. 12, 2026.