RTI acivist's murder: Gujarat Information Commission asks cops to furnish info on bootlegger to deceased's brother

Shaileshbhai Patel

By Pankti Jog*
Acting against police "indifference" towards bootleggers in Surendranagar, a district town situated about 130 kilometres west of Ahmedabad, the Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) has passed an order for furnishing information regarding number of cases registered and action taken by the cops against a bootlegger, who allegedly murdered a right to information (RTI) activist on June 15.
The GIC, which is the statutory watchdog for RTI in Gujarat, said in its order that the police must provide information about the cases against the bootlegger in its in past 4 years, and if actions were not been taken then, what was the reason.
One June 15, Shaileshbhai Patel filed RTI application with the office of the district superintendent of police (DSP), Surendrangar, seeking information about the FIRs lodged against the bootlegger and action taken regarding the same. Information about his application is said to have been leaked, and on the same night, he was called by the local crime branch (LCB), where the bootlegger (regarding whom, Shaileshbahi had sought information) was present.
While it is not known what happened at the LCB, on the same day night, Shaileshbhai, who was also a local journalist, was brutally beaten up and murdered.
Shaileshbhai's elder brother Dilipbhai Patel filed a complaint under section 18 of the RTI Act with the GIC on June 19, where he said that since his younger brother (applicant for the information) was no more, the police department might choose not to respond to the RTI query on the bootlegger. But since it was a matter of larger public interest, information should be furnished, he requested.
Taking cognizance of the plea, Chief Information Commission Balwant Singh passed an order that information sought by the deceased should be furnished within seven days of the receipt of the order. The police has also been asked to submit a compliance report for the same.
Despite the GIC order, which was passed on June 30, Dilipbhai, when contacted, said till date he has not received any information he had sought on behalf of his brother.
Meanwhile, serious questions are being raised about the efficiency of the police department in taking action against the bootlegger even after receiving intimation regarding their illegal liquor trading.
“We will again move to GIC if information is not given to us”, said one of family members of the deceased RTI activist. “Police have failed to act against such anti-social elements. Had they taken proper action, when required, Shaileshbhai would have been alive,”, they added.
RTI activist Harinesh Pandya said, “When information regarding any such sensitive issue involving corruption or illegal activities is sought, there is always an element of threat. Accused succeeded in eliminating with the help of system, but now that the information regarding police action and inaction has been asked by many people, how can they eliminate all the applicants?”
“Disclosure of information is the best protection that system can give to information seeker, provided they have intentions of disclosing the same and not hiding it from people” He added.
Meanwhile, information coming in from other states says that RTI applicants were recently filed in Maharastra and Andhra Pradesh. Just like what happened in Surendranagar, those who were seeking information regarding action taken by police against bootleggers have still not received any reply.

And, like in Surendranagar, their RTI applications have been transferred to the respective city police stations.

---

*With Mahiti Adhikar Gujarat Pahel, Ahmedabad

Comments

When democracy becomes a performance: The Tibetan exile experience

By Tseten Lhundup* I was born in Bylakuppe, one of the largest Tibetan settlements in southern India. From childhood, I grew up in simple barracks, along muddy roads, and in fields with limited resources. Over the years, I have watched our democratic system slowly erode. Observing the recent budget session of the 17th Tibetan Parliament-in-Exile, these “democratic procedures” appear grand and orderly on the surface, yet in reality they amount to little more than empty formalities. The parliamentarians seem largely disconnected from the everyday struggles faced by ordinary exiled Tibetans like us.

Civil society flags widespread violations of land acquisition Act before Parliamentary panel

By Jag Jivan Civil society organisations and stakeholders from across India have presented stark evidence before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Rural Development and Panchayati Raj , alleging systemic violations of the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition, Rehabilitation and Resettlement (RFCTLARR) Act, 2013 , particularly in Scheduled Areas and tribal regions.

Beyond the island: Top mythologist reorients the geography of the Ramayana

By Jag Jivan In a compelling new analysis that challenges conventional geographical assumptions about the ancient epic, writer and mythologist Devdutt Pattanaik has traced the roots of the Ramayana to the forests and river systems of Central and Eastern India, rather than the peninsular south or the modern island nation of Sri Lanka.

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Dr. Ram Bux Singh: Biogas pioneer’s legacy gains urgency amid energy crisis

By A Representative In an era defined by a global energy crisis and a desperate search for sustainable solutions, the visionary work of an Indian scientist from the mid-20th century is finding renewed, urgent relevance. Dr. Ram Bux Singh , a pioneering figure in biogas and renewable energy , is being posthumously honored by the Government of India, even as his decades-old innovations provide a blueprint for today’s challenges.

Alarming decline in India's repair culture threatens circular economy goals: Study

By Jag Jivan A comprehensive new study by environmental research and advocacy organisation Toxics Link has painted a worrying picture of India's fading repair culture, warning that the trend towards replacement over repair is accelerating the country's already critical e-waste crisis.

Manufacturing, services: India's low-skill, middle-skill labour remains underemployed

By Francis Kuriakose* The Indian economy was in a state of deceleration well before Covid-19 made its impact in early 2020. This can be inferred from the declining trends of four important macroeconomic variables that indicate the health of the economy in the last quarter of 2019.

Food security? Gujarat govt puts more than 5 lakh ration cards in the 'silent' category

By Pankti Jog* A new statistical report uploaded by the Gujarat government on the national food security portal shows that ensuring food security for the marginalized community is still not a priority of the state. The statistical report, uploaded on December 24, highlights many weaknesses in implementing the National Food Security Act (NFSA) in state.

Protesters in UK cities voice concerns over alleged developments in Bastar region

By A Representative Demonstrations were held across several cities in the United Kingdom on March 28, as groups and activists gathered to protest what they described as state actions in India under the reported “Operation Kagar.”

Search This Blog