Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
Extortion under the guise of RTI activism is gripping industrial areas, with rising cases of blackmail and intimidation targeting entrepreneurs and government officials. Alarmed by this growing menace, business owners have urged CP Pravin Pawar to take swift action against those misusing the Right to Information (RTI) Act for personal gain.
At a special meeting organized by the Marathwada Association of Small Scale Industries & Agriculture (MASSIA) on Wednesday, industry leaders raised serious concerns about the harassment they face. Many accused self-proclaimed RTI activists of demanding money and, upon refusal, resorting to aggressive protests and hunger strikes outside company offices, MIDC premises and the Pollution Control Board.
Police assure stern action
Police Commissioner Pawar assured full support to the business community, vowing to crack down on extortionists. "Stand firm on your complaints. We will not tolerate this. Such elements will be driven out," he declared. He instructed police officers to prevent unauthorized protests outside company premises, ensuring that businesses can operate without fear.
The meeting saw participation from senior police officers, including Deputy Commissioner Nitin Bagate and ACPs Dhananjay Patil, Sudarshan Patil and Subhash Bhujang along with MASSIA president Chetan Raut and vice president Manish Agrawal.
Traffic woes add to business struggles
Entrepreneurs also flagged severe traffic congestion at key junctions, including Mukundwadi, Dhoot Hospital Chowk, Wockhardt Chowk, and Cambridge Chowk, which connect to the Chikalthana Industrial Area. The Jalna Road remains inadequate for growing traffic, while the absence of dividers on Beed Bypass and increasing accidents on flyovers have raised safety concerns.
"Even officials live in fear"
A female officer from the State Pollution Control Board revealed that RTI activists not only target businesses but also threaten government officials. "They storm offices, shout obscene slogans, and hurl abuses. It’s not just the entrepreneurs even we are living in fear," she told the police. With rising threats and growing frustration, business leaders now look to law enforcement to restore order and protect the city's industrial backbone.