Pegasus was offered to Bengal police for Rs 25 crore: Mamata

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“They (NSO Group) had come to our police department four to five years ago to sell their device (Pegasus spyware) and demanded Rs 25 crore. I turned it down as it could have been used politically, against judges or officials, which is not acceptable,” Banerjee said.

The chief minister has repeatedly targeted the Narendra Modi government at the Centre for allegedly using the Israeli spyware to target phones of journalists, politicians, activists, businessmen, and others. She has been demanding an all-party meeting over the issue.

“It is one thing if it (the spyware) is used against anti-nationals or to strengthen security. But it should not be used for political gains. It should not be used against judges and officers,” Banerjee added.

A global consortium of media groups had revealed in July 2021 that the spyware had been used by several governments around the world to snoop on opponents, journalists, businessmen etc.

The Indian leg of the investigation, conducted by The Wire, reported that among the potential list of targets were Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, political strategist Prashant Kishor, the then Election Commissioner Ashok Lavasa, now Information and Technology Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw (who was not the minister than), along with several other prominent names. The list also mentioned numbers of around 40 journalists, including three editors of The Indian Express — two current and one former.

Last month, a three-member technical committee, constituted by the Supreme Court to probe the allegations, submitted its report to the court. The apex court has stayed proceedings of a panel formed by the West Bengal government in the case.