The spying scandal report is based on a leaked database revealing the names of 300 Indians on the target list
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a swing at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after phone numbers of Indian ministers, leaders in the opposition, and journalists were found on a database of targets for hacking that used Israeli spyware ‘Pegasus’ – only available to the government.
According to The Wire, which published the report, forensic tests conducted on some phones associated with the target numbers revealed clear signs of targeting by Pegasus spyware. Rahul Gandhi and five of his non-political friends are also mentioned in the list of targets, the wire revealed.
“We know what he’s been reading- everything on your phone!” tweeted Rahul Gandhi, replying to his own tweet posted three days ago where he “wondered what you guys are reading”.
We know what he’s been reading- everything on your phone!#Pegasus https://t.co/d6spyji5NA
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) July 19, 2021
Also read: Pegasus Project: 40 Indian Journalists, 2 Modi Cabinet Ministers, A Supreme Court Judge Among 300 Indians Targeted By Israeli Spyware
“The allegations regarding government surveillance on specific people have no concrete basis or truth associated with it whatsoever,” said the government, denying any involvement in hacking.
A leaked database revealed the report on spying scandal accessed by Paris-based media non-profit Forbidden Stories and Amnesty International which was shared with a host of publications around the world for a collaborative investigation.
The leaked database of thousands of telephone numbers believed to have been listed by multiple government clients of an Israeli surveillance technology firm includes over 300 verified Indian mobile telephone numbers, including those used by ministers, opposition leaders, journalists, the legal community, businessmen, government officials, scientists, rights activists, and others, according to an investigation by The Wire and 16 media partners.
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