The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Centre if it will bring on record whether the government bought Pegasus or used it or if it wasn't used at all to address the contentions of the petitioners.
The government today told Supreme Court that the Pegasus snooping allegations are based on “conjectures and unsubstantiated media reports” and would be examined by experts to dispel any wrong narrative.
The centre has denied allegations linked to recent reports that Israeli Pegasus spyware, was used to target opposition leaders, journalists and others, the allegation was denied after a two-page affidavit filed by the Additional Secretary, Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology.
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The government told the court that the petitioners have not made out any case. The affidavit said, citing the statement in parliament by Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnav, “To dispel any wrong narrative spread by certain vested interests and with an object of examining the issues raised. The government will constitute a committee of experts in the field to go into all aspects of the issue.”
The Supreme Court on Thursday (August 5) began its hearing on a batch of petitions that have sought a court-monitored investigation into the Pegasus snooping matter. After hearing initial arguments in the case, the Supreme Court asked all petitioners to serve their petition copy to the Central government. The court then posted the matter for further hearing on Tuesday (August 10).
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Then CJI said, “The reports of snooping came in 2019; I do not know whether any efforts were made to get more information, I am not going into the facts of each case; some people claim phones were intercepted. There is Telegraph Act for complaints.”
According to media organization The Wire, phones of opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi, Supreme Court judges, ministers, and journalists were among potential targets.