Crackdown on RTI Extortionists in Gujarat

Gujarat's government vows to clamp down on individuals misusing RTI applications for extortion. Over 41 FIRs have been filed in Surat against individuals masquerading as activists to blackmail citizens. The Anti Corruption Bureau is investigating this illicit activity involving RTI and YouTube channels.

The Gujarat government announced on Tuesday its intent to take stringent measures against individuals misusing the Right To Information (RTI) Act for extortion. This follows the registration of 41 First Information Reports (FIRs) in Surat against 50 accused within a month.

Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, detailed in the legislative assembly how the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) is compiling a list of individuals who exploit RTI applications and YouTube platforms to blackmail and extort money from unsuspecting citizens. The minister highlighted that strategic coordination between police forces and local assembly members led to these findings.

The misuse involves filing RTI applications under false pretenses and threatening to publicize damaging information to extract money. Notably, some of the accused include those affiliated with political parties and media platforms. Further investigations and arrests are ongoing to dismantle these extortion networks.

(With inputs from agencies.)