Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, representing the West Bengal government, assured the bench that the inquiry would not proceed for the time being.
After nudging from the Supreme Court, the West Bengal government assured the court that it would not proceed with the Pegasus spyware investigation till the matter is decided by the Supreme Court.
“When we are hearing other matters, we expect some restraint. The present issue is connected to other issues. It will have a bearing on it. In all fair fairness, we expect you to wait”, observed the CJI NV Ramana on Wednesday (August 25).
A bench of Chief Justice of India NV Ramana and Justice Surya Kant was hearing the petitions related to the Pegasus spyware case.
The West Bengal government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, had set up an inquiry commission on July 26, comprising retired Supreme Court judge Madan B. Lokur and former Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court Jyotirmoy Bhattacharya, to look into the allegations of snooping on politicians, activists, business leaders and journalists using Israeli spyware Pegasus.
On the request of Senior Advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who was representing the West Bengal government, to not pass any order, CJI NV Ramana said, “Mr. Singhvi, you don’t listen to us. We are saying that next week we will hear. We will pass a comprehensive order. In the meantime, if you start an enquiry, we will have to pass an order.