RTI activist targeting schools held over extortion allegations in Gandhinagar

Gandhinagar: CID Crime has nabbed one Mahendra Patel, an RTI activist from Gandhinagar over the allegations of extortion.

According to CID Crime, one Pravinbhai from Jay Ambe school in Surat had approached police and complained that he was threatened by Mahendra Patel who extorted Rs. 66 lakh. A complainant told Police that Mahendra Patel threatened him that he had maps and other information regarding lack of adherence of prescribed rules by Jay Ambe school and he would approach the District Education Office and manage to shut Jay Ambe school.

Police said Mahendra Patel’s residence and office were raided and Rs. 1.46 crore money and documents were recovered from there. Police said Patel would file RTI application at the District Education Officer (DEO) offices and receive details pertaining to various schools. He would then threaten the school management that if certain money was not paid, he would approach the Education department and manage to shut the school eventually.

Police said, the accused Mahendra Patel is the seventh class passed person and resides in Gandhinagar. Police said over a dozen bundles of documents pertaining to various schools are recovered from Mahendra Patel’s locations. Police issued an appeal to those who were previously extorted by Patel to come forward and share the details with the police. DeshGujarat