RTI activist and YouTuber arrested for extortion in Gurugram, say Haryana police

In Gurugram, Haryana, police have arrested two men for allegedly trying to extort money by misusing the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The two accused are Sukhbir Tanwar, who calls himself an RTI activist, and MK Maurya, a YouTuber.

The complaint was filed by Pradeep Kaushik, chairman of GAV International School in Gurugram. Based on his report, an FIR (First Information Report) was registered at Sector 37 police station. The incident has raised serious concerns about the misuse of the RTI law by some individuals for personal gain.

Both Tanwar and Maurya were produced before a court and have been sent to judicial custody. Police said the investigation is ongoing.

How the extortion began

According to Kaushik, the matter began in October 2022 when Tanwar filed an RTI against his school with the education department. After getting some information through the RTI, Tanwar allegedly started blackmailing Kaushik.

Kaushik claimed that Tanwar even filed a court case to create pressure. He then reportedly demanded ₹10 lakh in exchange for withdrawing the case.

Trying to protect the school’s image, Kaushik paid ₹2.5 lakh to Tanwar on December 5, 2024. This payment was allegedly made near the court. Later, Tanwar withdrew the court case on April 8, 2025. However, Kaushik said that the blackmailing didn’t stop.

Instead, more RTIs were filed. This time, the requests were made to other departments, including the income tax department. Kaushik stated that these new actions were also meant to put more pressure on him.

On April 15, fresh RTI applications were filed. Following that, Tanwar allegedly demanded ₹5 lakh more. This time, the demand was passed through YouTuber MK Maurya, according to the complaint.

Kaushik said that on May 8, he met both Tanwar and Maurya at his school in Sector 37. He gave them ₹25,000 as part of the demanded amount. This meeting was recorded by the school's CCTV cameras, and the footage was later submitted to the police.

After receiving the complaint and the CCTV footage, Gurugram police started an investigation. Both accused were taken into custody. The police confirmed that they were presented in court and sent to jail.

A senior police officer said, “We have registered the FIR and arrested both individuals. Further investigation is being carried out. All pieces of evidence are being reviewed.”

The FIR includes charges related to extortion and criminal conspiracy. Authorities are also checking if the accused were involved in similar cases before or if they have done this to other schools or institutions.

Concerns about RTI misuse

The Right to Information Act was made to increase transparency in government departments. It allows citizens to ask questions and request information from government bodies. However, cases like this raise concerns about how some people may be misusing this powerful tool for personal profit.

Several activists and legal experts have earlier warned that fake activists sometimes misuse RTI laws to threaten or blackmail officials, schools, hospitals, or small businesses. In such cases, the aim is not to get genuine information, but to pressure people into paying money to avoid problems.

Police in Gurugram said they will be looking into whether Tanwar had filed similar RTIs in the past and if he used the same method with others. They are also checking Maurya’s online activity and YouTube content to see if he was using his platform to support such illegal work.

The investigation is still at an early stage, and police are collecting all documents, phone call records, and digital evidence to support the case. Officers said that anyone else who may have been targeted in a similar way should come forward and report it.

“We urge other school owners or individuals who may have faced such blackmail to contact us. We are committed to taking strict action,” said a police spokesperson.

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The case has gained attention in local circles, especially among private school owners, many of whom are now more cautious about responding to RTIs and dealing with so-called activists.

Some residents expressed concern about the misuse of laws that were meant to help the public. “RTI is a good law, but if people misuse it for blackmail, then honest citizens suffer,” said a local parent whose child studies in a private school.

Another citizen commented, “YouTube and social media give a big platform to people, but some use it wrongly. The police should act fast and make sure such people are punished.”

At the same time, many also said that this incident should not lead to mistrust of genuine activists who use RTI for public good. “There are real RTI users who have exposed scams and helped the public. We must not paint all of them with the same brush,” said an RTI supporter from Gurugram.

The police will continue their investigation and may file a chargesheet in the coming weeks. Both Tanwar and Maurya remain in jail. The CCTV footage from the school will be a key part of the evidence.

Kaushik, the complainant, has said that his main concern was to protect the name and reputation of his school. He hopes that legal action will send a message to others who misuse laws for personal benefit.

For now, authorities are working to build a strong case. They are also checking whether the accused have links with others who may be part of a larger network involved in similar activities.

As the case moves forward, more details may come out. The incident has already sparked debate around RTI misuse, online influence, and the safety of private institutions from such threats.