Pegasus row: Senior journalists move SC seeking independent enquiry into snooping allegations

Senior journalists N Ram and Sashi Kumar have in a petition to the Supreme Court sought an independent enquiry into alleged snooping by Israel’s Pegasus spyware.

The journalist demanded that reports on Israeli Pegasus spyware allegedly being used to spy on opposition leaders, two union ministers and 40 journalists among others should be investigated by a sitting or former judge.

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The petition seeks to investigate if the illegal hacking into the phones was an attempt by agencies and organisations to muzzle the exercise of free speech and expression of dissent in India.

The petition says the Supreme Court should direct the government to disclose whether it has obtained a license for the spyware or used it - directly or indirectly - to conduct surveillance of any kind.