Today, the Supreme Court refused to grant anticipatory bail to an RTI activist accused of obstructing a public servant during the construction of a road, while orally observing that “RTI activism has become a new business.”

A Bench of Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Vijay Bishnoi dismissed the plea filed by RTI activist Rakesh Kumar Behl challenging a Punjab and Haryana High Court order that had denied him anticipatory bail.

During the hearing, Justice Mehta criticised the growing misuse of the Right to Information mechanism, remarking, “RTI activists have become a new business. The Central government has issued funds; it will take care of the construction of the road. You are nobody. So-called RTI activist! Yellow journalism. Dismissed.”

Justice Bishnoi also questioned the petitioner’s role in supervising public works, asking, “Who are you to monitor the construction or progress of all these roads? Are you some superior authority?”

According to the prosecution, Behl and another accused allegedly interrupted ongoing road construction work, intimidated the complainant supervising the project and labourers present at the site, and physically assaulted the complainant. It is alleged that Behl struck the complainant while the co-accused kicked him.

The FIR further alleges that the accused made caste-based derogatory remarks against labourers at the site.

The case has been registered under multiple provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, including Sections 304(2), 132, 221, 121(1), 351(2), 351(3), read with Sections 3(5) and 121(2), along with Section 3(1) of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.

While rejecting anticipatory bail earlier, the Punjab and Haryana High Court observed that the FIR disclosed specific and direct allegations regarding the accused's involvement in obstructing government work.

Case: Ramesh Kumar Behl v. State of Punjab | SLP (Crl.) No. 10257/2026 (Diary No. 32358/2026)