The West Bengal Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, constituted an inquiry commission, which is headed by former Supreme Court Judge, Justice Madan B. Lokur, to probe into the allegations relating to Pegasus spyware scandal.
A notification, in furtherance to this decision, had been issued by Additional Chief Secretary of Government of West Bengal. Apart from Supreme Court judge, the commission is also headed by former Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Justice Jyotirmay Bhattacharya.
This development came days after news portal, The Wire, along with 16 other media organizations, had divulged a snoop list that included various activists, politicians, judges, journalists, and several others, who were potential targets of cyber-surveillance conducted through the Israeli firm, NSO Group’s Pegasus software.
The agencies also uncovered that the snoop list of politicians included Chief Minister’s nephew and TMC MP, Abhishek Banerjee during the time of West Bengal Assembly Elections 2021.
The CM, during the press conference, pronounced that it was expected from the Centre to conduct an inquiry regarding the surveillance allegations under the supervision of Supreme Court, however, no action has yet been taken. She added that, on a front foot, the State of West Bengal took the charge of initiating an inquiry into the said allegations.
According to the notification, mobile numbers of various individuals from the civic society had been illegally hacked by the software in the year 2017 which resulted in potential breach of States privacy and secrets of concerned individuals.
Furthermore, it was stated that the intercepted information might have landed in the hands of State or non-State actors, which if found true, could amount to total breakdown of public order and serious criminal offence.
The commission had been constituted to prevent widespread ramifications of “definite matter of public importance.” The notification emphasized the need of independent examination of allegations and thus pursuant to powers conferred by Section 3 of Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952, the said Inquiry Commission had been constituted.
The Commission so formed has been directed to submit a report of findings and recommendations within six months. It has been extended the autonomy of devising its own procedure of investigation and send notices to authorities, if required.
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