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New Delhi: A Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice NV Ramana and Justice Surya Kant will be hearing petitions seeking a court-monitored investigation into alleged snooping by government agencies on eminent citizens using the Israeli spyware Pegasus ‘snoopgate’, on August 5.
Three separate petitions have been filed in the apex court by senior journalists N Ram and Sashi Kumar and CPI(M) Rajya Sabha MP John Brittas as reports revealed that over 300 Indian journalists, activists, Opposition leaders, sitting ministers and businessmen were spied on using the Israeli NSO-made Pegasus spyware.
Submitting the petition before a bench headed by CJI Ramana, senior advocate Kapil Sibal said, “This matter has huge ramifications on civil liberties as it involves surveillance of Opposition leaders, journalists, and activists. It is creating waves not just in India but abroad as well.”
The petitioners have demanded an inquiry into the alleged snooping by a retired or sitting Supreme Court judge to probe into this case of mass surveillance on Indian citizens and identify the entities responsible for it.
The Centre on Friday said that the controversy over allegations of spying using Pegasus was a “non-issue”, even as the Opposition demanded answers in Parliament.
Certain countries, including France and Hungary, have ordered probes into the recent revelations.
