Indian Express: Ahmedabad: Thursday, 04 April 2024.
The Gujarat Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Wednesday said it has issued summons to around 300 Right to Information (RTI) activists across the state to verify their credentials and also investigate the purpose for which the information they received under the RTI Act was being used.
As per the CID, the move comes after Ahmedabad-based RTI activist Mahendra Patel was booked in four cases of alleged extortion since January and cash worth Rs 1.5 crore was seized from his apartment.
The officers said that the activists, who have been issued summons, are connected to Mahendra through social media.
The summons have been issued under Section 91 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which empowers the department to issue “summons to produce a document or other material that is necessary for the purpose of any investigation”.
Superintedent of Police CID (Crime) Mukesh Patel told The Indian Express, “The latest complaint against Mahendra Patel was filed by a school in Surat, against which he had obtained some information from the education department under the RTI Act.”
“He used the information to threaten the school that he would get its licenses cancelled… and extorted Rs 66 lakh,” he said.
Previously, three other FIRs have been lodged against him based on complaints filed in Bhavnagar, he added.
“We have decided to proactively verify the credentials of around 300 other RTI activists and als o ascertain for what purpose did they use the information they sought from various departments.”
In a statement, the CID said, “Around 300 RTI activists from across Gujarat were connected with Mahendra Patel via social media. Did all these activists use the RTI Act to seek information in public interest or did they seek information to commit extortion like the accused in the present case? An in-depth information needs to be carried out in this matter and more than 300 RTI activists have been summoned to be present before the investigating officer with necessary documents.”
Mahendra has been booked under sections 384 (extortion), 389 (putting a person in fear of accusation of an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years in order to commit extortion) and 170 (impersonating as public servant or attempting to do an act under the colour of public office) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The Gujarat Crime Investigation Department (CID) on Wednesday said it has issued summons to around 300 Right to Information (RTI) activists across the state to verify their credentials and also investigate the purpose for which the information they received under the RTI Act was being used.
As per the CID, the move comes after Ahmedabad-based RTI activist Mahendra Patel was booked in four cases of alleged extortion since January and cash worth Rs 1.5 crore was seized from his apartment.
The officers said that the activists, who have been issued summons, are connected to Mahendra through social media.
The summons have been issued under Section 91 of the Criminal Procedure Code, which empowers the department to issue “summons to produce a document or other material that is necessary for the purpose of any investigation”.
Superintedent of Police CID (Crime) Mukesh Patel told The Indian Express, “The latest complaint against Mahendra Patel was filed by a school in Surat, against which he had obtained some information from the education department under the RTI Act.”
“He used the information to threaten the school that he would get its licenses cancelled… and extorted Rs 66 lakh,” he said.
Previously, three other FIRs have been lodged against him based on complaints filed in Bhavnagar, he added.
“We have decided to proactively verify the credentials of around 300 other RTI activists and als o ascertain for what purpose did they use the information they sought from various departments.”
In a statement, the CID said, “Around 300 RTI activists from across Gujarat were connected with Mahendra Patel via social media. Did all these activists use the RTI Act to seek information in public interest or did they seek information to commit extortion like the accused in the present case? An in-depth information needs to be carried out in this matter and more than 300 RTI activists have been summoned to be present before the investigating officer with necessary documents.”
Mahendra has been booked under sections 384 (extortion), 389 (putting a person in fear of accusation of an offence punishable with death, imprisonment for life, or imprisonment for 10 years in order to commit extortion) and 170 (impersonating as public servant or attempting to do an act under the colour of public office) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
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