An RTI activist has been arrested by the Anti-Extortion Cell (AEC) of the city police for allegedly harassing and extorting Rs 5 lakhs from a doctor from Kalwa.

An offence under sections 384, 385 and 386 of Indian Penal Code has been registered at the Kalwa police station against the arrested activist Tribuvan Singh, who was arrested on October 2. He was produced before a local court, which remanded him to police custody until October 5, police said. Dr. Vikles Yadav told the police that Singh had filed a complaint against his Sai Seva Health Centre and Janaseva Arogya Kendra with different agencies including municipal corporation.

The accused, who described himself as president of the BJP Navi Mumbai, Diva taluka unit, had filed several RTI complaints against the doctor and the hospital with a view to harass him and also threatened to get the hospital shut from the authorities, the complaint stated.

On October 1, Singh had made a demand of Rs 12 lakh from the doctor and warned of dire consequences if the ransom was not paid. On October 1, acting on the complaint lodged by the doctor, the AEC officials laid a trap and nabbed Singh from near the house of the victim while accepting the sum of Rs 5 lakh, sources added.