Mamata govt announces inquiry panel to probe Pegasus scandal

The Mamata Banerjee government in West Bengal has announced the constitution of a two-member panel to probe the alleged snooping of public figures using the Pegasus spyware.

Former Supreme Court justice Madan Lokur would head the commission, while former Calcutta High Court justice Jyotirymay Bhattacharya would be the second member.

Mamata Banerjee announced the constitution of the panel on Monday. She was quoted by ANI as saying, "Through Pegasus, everyone, including judiciary and civic society, has been under surveillance. We expected that during Parliament, Centre will investigate under SC supervision, but they didn't. West Bengal is the first state to initiate a commission of inquiry."

Mamata added the panel would probe, "who did the hacking, how they did it and why people's voice was being stifled." She said the panel was being formed under the Commission of Inquiry Act.

Mamata noted the panel would also probe allegations of phone tapping.

The names of Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee and poll strategist Prashant Kishor were on the list of those allegedly chosen for surveillance by the Pegasus spyware. Abhishek Banerjee is the nephew of Mamata Banerjee and a leader of the Trinamool Congress, while Kishor had played a role in planning the Trinamool Congress's successful campaign in the recent Assembly polls.

According to unconfirmed reports, the two-member panel has been tasked with submitting its report in four weeks.

The TMC had been attacking the Narendra Modi government on the Pegasus issue. During her speech on Martyrs' Day last week, Mamata Banerjee warned of a surveillance state existing in India.

The announcement of a probe panel comes hours before Mamata Banerjee arrives in Delhi for a much-publicised visit that is being linked to her calls to form an opposition alliance against the BJP.

(With inputs from Rabi Banerjee)