The Supreme Court today(May 15) denied anticipatory bail to an RTI activist accused of obstructing a public servant in connection with the construction of a road.

A bench comprising Justice Sandeep Mehta and Justice Vijay Bishnoi denied bail to RTI activist Rakesh Kumar Behl. It orally remarked that RTI activism has become a new business.

Justice Mehta said: "RTI activists have become a new business. Central government has issued funds, it will take care of the construction of road. You are nobody. So-called RTI activist!. Yellow journalism. Dismissed."

Justice Bishnoi also questioned why Behl was monitoring the construction of the road. He remarked: "Who are you to monitor the construction all these road progress or all? Are you some superior authority?"

The petitioner assailed the Punjab and Haryana High Court's order denying him anticipatory bail.

To briefly state, the petitioner, along with another accused allegedly obstructed the ongoing road construction work and also intimated the complainant under whose supervision the work was being executed and the labourers present at the site. The petitioner is also said to have inflicted blows on the complainant while another accused kicked him.

It is also alleged that they made caste-based derogatory remarks against the labourers and subsequently, FIR was registered under Sections 304(2), 132, 221, 121(1), 351(2), 351(3), of BNS, 2023 (Sections 3(5), 121(2) of the BNS, 2023 and Section 3(1) of the SC/ST Act.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court in its order stated that the allegations levelled in the FIR discloses specific and direct involvement in obstructing the government work.

Case Details: RAMESH KUMAR BEHL Vs STATE OF PUNJAB|SLP(Crl) No. 10257/2026 Diary No. 32358 / 2026