On February 13, 2026, the Supreme Court directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to file a report on whether it has enough evidence to prove guilt in the sexual assault and gangrape cases from the May 2023 Manipur violence. Chief Justice Surya Kant's Bench said the CBI must share copies of chargesheets with victims or their families as per law. The court also proposed that Chief Justices of Manipur and Gauhati High Courts closely supervise the criminal trials. The court acted following advocate Vrinda Grover’s submissions about poor trial progress and lack of victim updates. Ms. Grover highlighted a case where a young woman, gang-raped during the ethnic conflict, passed away in January 2026 due to trauma-linked illness. She accused the CBI of "shocking casualness," saying victims were never informed about the case progress and accused persons often failed to appear. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta agreed that victim complaints must be handled sensitively. The Chief Justice acknowledged the lost time and called the woman’s death "very unfortunate." Since some cases are now in Assam, the court suggested that Manipur Chief Justice M. Sundar and Gauhati Chief Justice Ashutosh Kumar set up a watch mechanism for the trials. The court said Assam’s Chief Justice could form a Special Bench to monitor sensitive cases and ensure justice is served. Chief Justice Kant added the Supreme Court will intervene if complications arise. The case is next scheduled for hearing on February 26, 2026.