PIL demands SC monitered probe into Pegasus scandal

"Pegasus is not just a surveillance tool. It is a cyber-weapon being unleashed on the Indian polity." the PIL claims.

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Image courtesy: Bloombergquint

Advocate ML Sharma filed a PIL in the Supreme Court seeking a court-monitored probe into the Pegasus snooping scandal. The latest revelations from the Wire stated that the list contained Ex-CBI chief Alok Verma’s number and those related to him.

Sharma in his plea stated that the scandal is an attack on the Indian democracy and that this the biggest crime committed by the ruling party for their personal and political interests.

Pegasus scandal is a matter of grave concern and an attack on the Indian democracy, country’s security and judiciary. The widespread use of surveillance is morally disfiguring. National security implications of this software is huge,” the plea said.

Claiminng that the controversy raises questions on the intrgerity of democratic institutions, the plea seeks prosecution of “all accused persons/ministers for buying of Pgasus and snooping on citizens of India” – including politicians, journalists and activists – “for their vested political interest since 2017”.

The plea has arraigned Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the CBI as first and second respondents. The plea is being filed “to protect fundamental right of the citizen of India challenging snooping of the citizen of India via Pegasus software by the respondents for their vested political interest couple with seeking further direction for investigation through SIT formed by this Hon’ble Court”.

Sharma has contended that The explosive growth of surveillance technology vendors is a global security and human rights problem. It is not primarily China, but democratic states like Israel and UK, that are selling technologies for deepening the surveillance powers of states. There needs to be a global compact, or at least one amongst democratic states, on regulating these technologies.”
Sharma demands an urgent hearing of this petition and the need to review if it is within farmework of the Indian constitution.

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May 2024
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