NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday delivered a sharp rebuke to an RTI (Right to Information Act) activist while refusing anticipatory bail to him and another accused in a case linked to the alleged obstruction of road construction work in Punjab.A bench of Justices Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi rejected the plea of RTI activist Rakesh Kumar Behl and his aide, questioning their authority to monitor government-funded infrastructure projects.During the hearing, Justice Mehta criticised what he described as the growing misuse of RTI. “RTI activism has become a new business. The Central government has issued funds, it will take care of the construction of the road. You are nobody. So-called RTI activist! Yellow journalism. Dismissed,” he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.Justice Bishnoi observed, “Who are you to monitor the construction of all these roads? Are you some superior authority or what?”Behl had approached the apex court after the Punjab and Haryana high court declined to grant him anticipatory bail. His counsel argued that he and the co-accused had been falsely implicated because they had exposed alleged corruption in the road construction project.According to the FIR, Behl and another accused, Rajiv Kumar alias Mintu, allegedly obstructed ongoing road construction work in Batala, in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district. The complaint alleges that they interfered with the execution of the project, intimidated the supervising official and labourers at the site, used derogatory remarks against a worker and caused injuries to the complainant.An FIR was subsequently registered against them under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, as well as Section 3(1) of the SC/ST Act.In its May 14 order, the Punjab and Haryana high court had refused anticipatory bail, observing that the allegations in the FIR disclosed “specific and direct involvement” of the accused in obstructing government work. The Supreme Court upheld that view and dismissed the plea.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosCongress Welcomes US-Iran Peace Pact, Accuses PM Modi Of ‘Blind Devotion’ To IsraelTMC Symbol Battle Begins As Rebel MPs Claim They Represent The ‘Real’ Trinamool CongressAshok Gehlot Triggers Row, Says Indira Gandhi Would Have Banned BJP If She Were Alive TodayIndian Army Revamps Dress Regulations, Retires Colonial-Era SymbolsFrom Farmland To Flight Path: Farmers Behind Jewar Airport Take Historic First Commercial FlightExplained: How a Fringe Tripura Party Became Central to the TMC Rebellion and NDA’s Numbers GameRSS Event Row: BJP Targets Kerala CM Over Remarks Against Vice-ChancellorsOver 500 Indian Sailors Stuck In Strait Of Hormuz For 107 Days As Maritime Crisis DeepensTMC Split Deepens: Sudip Bandyopadhyay Says Rebels Will Seek Trinamool Name And Symbol In JulyPunjab Elections Could Be Held In November This Year, Claims Kejriwal Amid Early Poll Buzz123Photostories5 things children often hide and why parents need to know these immediately10 summer-friendly saree fabrics for working women for comfort, style, and well-beingFrom Smriti Mandhana to Jemimah Rodrigues: 5 parenting lessons to take from the parents of India’s women cricket starsFather’s Day 2026: How Father’s Day began because one woman wanted to honour her single fatherFrom kebab to achar: 11 ways to enjoy Kathal (jackfruit) during summer seasonInside Aman Gupta’s ultra-luxurious Rs 52 crore abode: Massive balconies, a Bollywood corner, luxe lounge and more7 most expensive streets to buy a home in the world in 20267 Snakes with incredible camouflage skills that can almost disappear into their surroundingsYour eyes could be predicting health problems long before you feel them5 snakes that love swimming pools and important checks to do before plunging in that cool blue hotel pool123Hot PicksIndia A vs Sri Lanka A live scoreAP Inter Supplementary ResultsNEET Admit CardMHT CET PCM ResultMahua MoitraBaba Milandas murderNoida airportStock Market LiveGold rate todayTop TrendingKerala HSCAP first allotment result 2026UPSC Prelims ResultNEET UG Paper Leak ScamFIFA World Cup 2026Women T20 World CupNoida AirportITR filing FY 2025-26CBSE 10th Second Board Result 2026Shreyanka PatilSpain vs Cabo Match Preview
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday delivered a sharp rebuke to an RTI (Right to Information Act) activist while refusing anticipatory bail to him and another accused in a case linked to the alleged obstruction of road construction work in Punjab.A bench of Justices Sandeep Mehta and Vijay Bishnoi rejected the plea of RTI activist Rakesh Kumar Behl and his aide, questioning their authority to monitor government-funded infrastructure projects.During the hearing, Justice Mehta criticised what he described as the growing misuse of RTI. “RTI activism has become a new business. The Central government has issued funds, it will take care of the construction of the road. You are nobody. So-called RTI activist! Yellow journalism. Dismissed,” he said, as quoted by news agency PTI.Justice Bishnoi observed, “Who are you to monitor the construction of all these roads? Are you some superior authority or what?”Behl had approached the apex court after the Punjab and Haryana high court declined to grant him anticipatory bail. His counsel argued that he and the co-accused had been falsely implicated because they had exposed alleged corruption in the road construction project.According to the FIR, Behl and another accused, Rajiv Kumar alias Mintu, allegedly obstructed ongoing road construction work in Batala, in Punjab’s Gurdaspur district. The complaint alleges that they interfered with the execution of the project, intimidated the supervising official and labourers at the site, used derogatory remarks against a worker and caused injuries to the complainant.An FIR was subsequently registered against them under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, as well as Section 3(1) of the SC/ST Act.In its May 14 order, the Punjab and Haryana high court had refused anticipatory bail, observing that the allegations in the FIR disclosed “specific and direct involvement” of the accused in obstructing government work. The Supreme Court upheld that view and dismissed the plea.
