TMC government turned down NSO’s offer to sell Pegasus spyware: Mamata Banerjee

On Thursday West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee claimed that four-five years ago, Israeli cyber intelligence company, NSO Group, came to the state police department to sell the spyware Pegasus at a cost of Rs 25 crore.

The TMC supremo said that she turned down the offer because it could have been used in a problematic manner. She said that it could have been used to exploit politically and targeted judges and officials.

“They (NSO Group) had come to our police department 4-5yrs ago to sell their machine (Pegasus spyware) & demanded Rs 25cr; I turned it down as it could have been used politically, against judges/officials, which is not acceptable,” said Banerjee.