3 'RTI activists' held for extortion in separate cases, cops

In two separate cases in the city, three men claiming to be RTI activists were arrested on Saturday for allegedly extorting money from builders, police said.

A senior police officer said a "well-organised racket" has been in operation in Thane since the last few years, and filing of RTI queries in order to extort money from builders has become their business.

The three accused, including a former NCP corporator of Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC) who is presently a BJP worker, were arrested by the Anti Extortion Cell (AEC) of Thane police.

Talking to reporters here, Thane AEC chief senior inspector Pradeep Sharma said, "Two affected builders came forward and lodged complaints separately at Kasarwadavali and Mumbra police stations against six persons, including the three arrested."
Talking about the modus operandi of the accused in such cases, Sharma said, "It is a well organised racket. Their business is to extort money from the builders who come from Mumbai and carry out their work in Thane. Their code word is 'Welcome to Thane'."