Dainik Jagran: MP: Wednesday, 12 November 2025.
In a disturbing incident
from Morena, a farmer seeking transparency about alleged local corruption was
threatened, abused, and warned with jail by an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI)
after he filed a Right to Information (RTI) application. The entire confrontation
was captured on video, exposing the intimidation tactics used against him.
The Clash: ‘Don’t Act Smart, I’ll Send You to Jail’
The video shows ASI Kamlesh Kumar Jatav of the Chinnoni police station using threatening and abusive language against farmer Pan Singh Rawat and his family.
Pan Singh Rawat’s ordeal began when his repeated complaints about corruption in his village panchayat, filed on the state's 181 helpline, were consistently closed without any resolution or information. Frustrated with the inaction, Rawat turned to the Right to Information Act, 2005, filing an application to obtain documents related to the alleged corruption. His action, however, seemingly triggered the backlash from local authorities.
Rawat has alleged that the ASI is colluding with the Sarpanch, stating, “When I complain, the Sarpanch and police pressure me together.” This claim raises serious concerns about the integrity of local governance and law enforcement.
Official Acknowledgement and Response
When questioned about the incident, Station In-charge SI Shambhu Dayal Batham acknowledged that there is an ongoing dispute in the village regarding the construction of a Panchayat building. He also confirmed that ASI Kamlesh Kumar Jatav had used harsh words and stated that the officer has been advised to behave politely.
The Right to Information: A Citizen’s Empowerment Tool
The RTI Act, established in 2005, is a fundamental tool for promoting transparency and accountability in India's democracy. It empowers any citizen to request information from public authorities, paying a minimal fee of just ₹10, with responses mandated within 30 days.
This is not the first instance of alleged corruption involving local officials in Morena. In a separate case earlier, a clerk was caught red-handed by the Lokayukta police while accepting a bribe of ₹20,000 at the Porsa District Panchayat office. The clerk had demanded the bribe from a retired employee in exchange for processing his pension papers. Such incidents highlight the challenges of graft at the local level and the importance of anti-corruption efforts.
The Bigger Picture: Using Your Right to Know
This incident underscores a critical challenge faced by those who use the RTI Act. While the law is designed to be a powerful weapon against corruption, users sometimes face threats and harassment. Despite these obstacles, the RTI remains a constitutional right, with the Supreme Court affirming that the right to know is part of the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.
For citizens, the process remains straightforward: any individual can file a clear, focused application with a Public Information Officer (PIO) of the concerned government department and is entitled to a reply within a stipulated time.
The Clash: ‘Don’t Act Smart, I’ll Send You to Jail’
The video shows ASI Kamlesh Kumar Jatav of the Chinnoni police station using threatening and abusive language against farmer Pan Singh Rawat and his family.
- The Threat: The ASI is heard warning Rawat, “Don’t act smart, this is not your Sarpanch-Secretary. I will kick you inside. You want to become a leader, Pan Singh, I am explaining to you.”
- The Intimidation: The farmer was called to the police station on Monday and threatened with a case against him after he sought information via an RTI regarding corruption in the Janpad Pahargarh panchayat.
Pan Singh Rawat’s ordeal began when his repeated complaints about corruption in his village panchayat, filed on the state's 181 helpline, were consistently closed without any resolution or information. Frustrated with the inaction, Rawat turned to the Right to Information Act, 2005, filing an application to obtain documents related to the alleged corruption. His action, however, seemingly triggered the backlash from local authorities.
Rawat has alleged that the ASI is colluding with the Sarpanch, stating, “When I complain, the Sarpanch and police pressure me together.” This claim raises serious concerns about the integrity of local governance and law enforcement.
Official Acknowledgement and Response
When questioned about the incident, Station In-charge SI Shambhu Dayal Batham acknowledged that there is an ongoing dispute in the village regarding the construction of a Panchayat building. He also confirmed that ASI Kamlesh Kumar Jatav had used harsh words and stated that the officer has been advised to behave politely.
The Right to Information: A Citizen’s Empowerment Tool
The RTI Act, established in 2005, is a fundamental tool for promoting transparency and accountability in India's democracy. It empowers any citizen to request information from public authorities, paying a minimal fee of just ₹10, with responses mandated within 30 days.
- A Democratic Lifeline: The law gives common people the power to ask questions and ensures the government is answerable to those it serves.
- Roots in Empowerment: The RTI movement in India was born from the need of laborers and farmers to access official documents and fight for their rights, encapsulated in the slogan, “We will know, we will live”.
This is not the first instance of alleged corruption involving local officials in Morena. In a separate case earlier, a clerk was caught red-handed by the Lokayukta police while accepting a bribe of ₹20,000 at the Porsa District Panchayat office. The clerk had demanded the bribe from a retired employee in exchange for processing his pension papers. Such incidents highlight the challenges of graft at the local level and the importance of anti-corruption efforts.
The Bigger Picture: Using Your Right to Know
This incident underscores a critical challenge faced by those who use the RTI Act. While the law is designed to be a powerful weapon against corruption, users sometimes face threats and harassment. Despite these obstacles, the RTI remains a constitutional right, with the Supreme Court affirming that the right to know is part of the fundamental right to freedom of speech and expression.
For citizens, the process remains straightforward: any individual can file a clear, focused application with a Public Information Officer (PIO) of the concerned government department and is entitled to a reply within a stipulated time.
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