The Thane police in Maharashtra have arrested two journalists and an "RTI activist" for allegedly trying to extort money from a government official by defaming him and orchestrating a fake protest, an official said on Saturday, reported news agency PTI.

The police have identified the trio as Santosh Bhikan Hirey (44) of the weekly 'Navasfurti', published from Ambernath in Thane district, Samsad Sajjadkhan Pathan (48), editor of the weekly 'Lok Rajkaran' in Nashik, and Subash Nathu Patil (40), a Nashik resident who acquired information under RTI, reported PTI.