Person claiming to be RTI activist arrested for extortion
16 Dec, 2012The Thane police have arrested a 40 year old person for extorting money from a group of hoteliers following a sting operation. Earlier, the Hotel Owners Association of Thane complained to the police that the Kiran Vaidya was demanded money from Umesh Shetty, the owner of Hotel Abhishek, for putting a shed in the hotel without legal permits. They filmed Vaidya receiving the second instalment of a sum of Rs 6 lakh in twelve cameras. The recording allegedly shows Vaidya boasting about demanding and receiving money from other hoteliers too. Following his arrest, many other hoteliers came forward to register complaints and at least five cases have been lodged involving an extortion amount of Rs 16.5 lakh.
It has been reported that two NGOs, City and Industrial Samajik Sanstha and Consumer Protection Service Council, are registered on Vaidya’s name and he claims to be a RTI activist.