The Narendra Modi government once again refused to file a detailed affidavit before the Supreme Court, disclosing whether it used the military grade spyware Pegasus, manufactured by Israel-based company NSO. Appearing before a three-judge bench led by Chief Justice of India N.V. Ramana, while the SC was hearing a batch of petitions on the Pegasus intrude row, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta said the information sought by them will not be in national interest. He also said that the government will constitute a domain expert panel to look into the allegations that Pegasus was allegedly used to try and spy on prominent activists, journalists and lawyers in the country, and submit its report to the top court.
However, the visibly upset bench told Mehta that it did not want the government to put security issues in the affidavit. “You have repeatedly said that you don’t want to put anything in the affidavit. We also don’t want security issues to be put here. Presumably, a committee has been formed and then the report will be submitted here. Now we have to look into the whole issue and decide something,” it said.
