Skip to Main content

20.74°^C Vancouver

News Entertainment Sports Videos Shows Podcast Contact Us

Jul 26, 2021 9:52 AM -

West Bengal forms commission to investigate Pegasus spyware issue

Share On

west-bengal-forms-commission-to-investigate-pegasus-spyware-issue

West Bengal forms commission to investigate Pegasus spyware issue

Amid the Pegasus spyware controversy, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday announced that West Bengal has formed a commission to investigate the matter.

The announcement was made by Banerjee before her scheduled visit to Delhi to meet the Opposition leaders including Congress chief Sonia Gandhi.

Briefing media persons, the chief minister said, "Through Pegasus spyware, everyone including the judiciary and civic society have been under surveillance. We expected that during the Parliament session, the Centre will investigate the matter under the Supreme Court's supervision but they did not. West Bengal is the first state to initiate a commission of inquiry."

"Under the leadership of Senior Justice Madan Bhimrao Lokur and former Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court Jyotirmay Bhattacharya, we have initiated the commission. They will monitor illegal hacking, monitoring, surveillance, recording mobile phones, etc," added Banerjee.

The chief minister informed the commission has been set up under the Inquiry Act (1952). The Opposition has alleged that names of several Indian politicians, journalists, lawyers, and activists have appeared on the leaked list of potential targets for surveillance by an unidentified agency using Pegasus spyware.

This comes following reports published in The Wire.

Latest news

new-westminster-police-seize-multiple-weapons-during-sexual-exploitation-investigation

New Westminster police seize multiple weapons during sexual exploitation investigation

New Westminster police say an investigation into the alleged sexual exploitation of a youth led officers to seize multiple firearms and prohibited devices from a local residence. According to the New Westminster Police Department, the investigation began March 21 after a member of the public reported seeing an adult man behaving in what they believed was an inappropriate manner with a female youth in a public place. The witness provided police with a vehicle licence plate after the pair left the area. Officers later located the man and determined he had court-imposed conditions prohibiting him

abbotsford-police-seize-fentanyl-during-patrol-investigation-on-south-fraser-way

Abbotsford police seize fentanyl during patrol investigation on South Fraser Way

Abbotsford Police say a woman was arrested Wednesday afternoon after officers conducting proactive patrols observed suspected drug activity in the 32400 block of South Fraser Way. According to an Abbotsford Police Department release, patrol officers arrested a 48-year-old Abbotsford woman shortly before 3 p.m. on May 27 in connection with the investigation. Police said a search following the arrest resulted in the seizure of more than 100 grams of packaged drugs, including fentanyl, along with a small amount of cash. Investigators have not announced any charges as of publication time, and the

niagara-police-homicide-unit-investigating-womans-death-in-st-catharines

CanadaMay 29, 2026

Niagara police homicide unit investigating woman’s death in St. Catharines

Detectives with the Niagara Regional Police Service homicide unit are continuing to investigate the death of a 23-year-old woman in St. Catharines. According to Niagara Regional Police, uniform officers from 1 District responded to a residence near Lakeshore Road and Lake Street on Friday, May 15, after reports that two people were found without vital signs. Police said officers located 23-year-old Vidhi Kalpeshkumar Megha deceased inside the home. Investigators have not released further details about the circumstances surrounding the death. The victim’s family has been notified, police said

calgary-man-dies-after-being-struck-by-c-train-downtown

AlbertaMay 29, 2026

Calgary man dies after being struck by C-Train downtown

Calgary police say a man who was struck by a C-Train in downtown Calgary last week has died from his injuries. Police said the collision happened Thursday afternoon when a man in his 60s was walking in the downtown core and entered the path of an oncoming light-rail transit train. According to the Calgary Police Service, the man became pinned beneath the train and was taken to hospital in critical condition. Police confirmed this week that he later died. Investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the collision. Police have not released the man’s identity and no further

trump-says-u-s-blockade-in-strait-of-hormuz-to-be-lifted

WorldMay 29, 2026

Trump says U.S. blockade in Strait of Hormuz to be lifted

U.S. President Donald Trump says a U.S. naval blockade affecting ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will be lifted, following days of disruption in one of the world’s busiest oil transit routes. In a post on Truth Social, Trump said vessels delayed in the strait “may start the process of ‘heading home,’” adding that the blockade had been “amazing and unprecedented.” According to international energy agencies, roughly 20 per cent of global crude oil shipments move through the Strait of Hormuz during peacetime. The narrow waterway along Iran’s southern coast is considere

Related News

AAP takes early lead in Punjab municipal election results

AAP takes early lead in Punjab municipal election results

The ruling Aam Aadmi Party appeared headed for a strong showing in Punjab’s municipal elections as vote counting continued Thursday across the state. According to results available by 6 p.m. local time, the Aam Aadmi Party had won 880 wards and was leading in several others. Congress was in second place with 354 ward victories as of 5 p.m., while the Shiromani Akali Dal had secured 175 wards and the Bharatiya Janata Party had won 146 wards. Independent candidates won 245 wards. In Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s constituency of Dhuri, the Aam Aadmi Party won 20 of 21 seats, according to the

Kewal Singh Dhillon appointed new Punjab BJP president

Kewal Singh Dhillon appointed new Punjab BJP president

The Bharatiya Janata Party has appointed former Barnala MLA Kewal Singh Dhillon as the new president of its Punjab unit, according to a letter issued by BJP national general secretary Arun Singh. The appointment was approved with the consent of the party’s national leadership and takes effect immediately, the letter said. Dhillon, who was previously associated with former Punjab chief minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, has remained active in Punjab politics for several years. The leadership change comes as the BJP continues efforts to strengthen its organizational presence in Punjab ahead of fu

Air India to reduce domestic flights by up to 22% amid rising fuel costs

Air India to reduce domestic flights by up to 22% amid rising fuel costs

Air India says it will temporarily reduce the number of its domestic flights by 20 to 22 per cent as the airline faces increasing aviation fuel prices and higher operating costs. The airline said it has already reduced some international flight operations by nearly 27 per cent as part of broader cost-management measures. According to the company, the decision was taken due to sustained high fuel prices, which have increased the cost of operating flights across several routes. In a statement issued Wednesday, Air India said flight frequencies on selected domestic and international routes will b

Legals

Journalism code of ethics

© 2021 AKASH Broadcasting Inc.

MANAGED BY STRATWIT

useful links

Accessibility Plan

Broadcasting Notice of Consultation

BC Children's Hospital