Bangal to go slow on Pegasus probe after SC calls for ‘restraint’

Of course, it (panel) has a bearing with the set of other matters being heard by us... But you will have to maintain restraint SUPREME COURT, to West Bengal govt

NEW DELHI: Nudged by the Supreme Court, the West Bengal government on Wednesday agreed to go slow on its probe into the Pegasus snooping controversy by a two-member commission of inquiry headed by retired judge Madan B Lokur.

A top court bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) NV Ramana, was clear that since the entire gamut of the Pegasus controversy was being considered by it in a separate bunch of cases where the Union government has offered to set up an expert committee to examine various aspects of charges related to the alleged snooping, it made sense for the West Bengal panel to “show restraint”.

“Of course, it (commission by West Bengal) has a bearing with the set of other matters being heard by us. In all fairness, we expect that you can wait for some time. If you want us to pass some orders, we can do that too. But you will have to maintain restraint,” the bench, which also included justice Surya Kant, told senior lawyer Abhishek Manu Singhvi, who appeared for the state government.

At the outset of the hearing, senior advocate Harish Salve, who represented the petition filed by NGO Global Village Foundation Public Charitable Trust seeking disbanding of the commission, submitted that there cannot be two parallel inquiries in the same subject matter.

Opposing this, Singhvi questioned the bona fide of the petition but the bench remained firm that notwithstanding the petitioner’s legal standing, the state government will have to hold its hand till the court takes up all the cases together sometime next week.

“The other cases will have pari materia effect (form part of the same subject matter) on