The Dark Side of Transparency: Misuse of RTI by Whistleblowers for Monetary Gains

The Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, was enacted to promote transparency and accountability in the functioning of public authorities. However, over time, instances have emerged where individuals, posing as whistleblowers, have exploited the provisions of the RTI Act not to uphold public interest but to extract financial benefits through blackmail or coercion. This paper examines the patterns of misuse, the vulnerabilities in the Act's framework, and the implications for genuine transparency efforts. It also proposes safeguards to prevent abuse without compromising the spirit of the legislation.