Pegasus Row: SC to setup probe panel, formal orders next week, says CJI

The Supreme Court is intending to set up a technical experts committee to look into charges. The matter is taking time as some experts it had in mind to be members of the committee expressed difficulties. Will finalise it by next week, says Chief Justice N V Ramana.

New Delhi:The Supreme Court Thursday said it will pass its interim order next week on pleas seeking an independent probe into the Pegasus snooping matter. A bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana said, "The Supreme Court is intending to set up a technical experts committee to look into charges. The matter is taking time as some experts it had in mind to be members of the committee expressed difficulties. Will finalise it by next week."

It may be recalled that on September 13, the top court had reserved its order, saying it only wanted to know whether or not the Centre used the Pegasus spyware through illegal methods to allegedly snoop on citizens.

The Union government had earlier refused to file an affidavit citing national security on pleas seeking an independent probe into the snooping row.

The pleas seeking an independent probe are related to reports of alleged snooping by government agencies on eminent citizens, politicians and scribes by using Israeli firm NSO’s spyware Pegasus.

Appearing before the top court, Solicitor General (SG) Tushar Mehta said that whether a "particular software was used or not is not a matter of public domain."

An international media consortium has reported that over 300 verified Indian mobile phone numbers were on the list of potential targets for surveillance using Pegasus spyware.