Supreme Court to hear on Pegasus espionage controversy today, may consider probe panel report

The Supreme Court is likely to consider the interim inquiry report submitted by a three-member committee set up by the court in January this year in a case related to unauthorized surveillance using Pegasus software. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India NV Ramana may consider the interim report submitted by a committee headed by former Supreme Court Justice RV Raveendran. Sources said the report is interim as some aspects of the matter are yet to be analysed.

The committee may seek more time for filing the final report or for filing an interim report in the matter.

Pegasus controversy

An investigation into the Pegasus controversy revealed that the spyware was used on ministers, opposition leaders, political strategists, journalists, activists, minority leaders, SC judges, religious leaders and the heads of the Central Bureau of Investigation. There was a huge uproar in Parliament after this alleged disclosure by 17 media organizations. The opposition and social workers attacked the government from all sides. The Pegasus dispute then reached the Supreme Court, which heard several petitions last year.

What the court said?

While delivering judgment on 12 petitions in this one case, the bench had observed, “The petitioners have put on record certain material which deserves consideration by this Court. There is no specific rebuttal by the Government of India to any facts stated by the petitioners The ‘limited affidavit’ filed by the Government merely denies this, which may not be sufficient. In such circumstances we have the power to admit the prima facie case framed to investigate the allegations made by the petitioners. There is no choice but to.”