Guwahati, April 6: Suspended special superintendent of police, CID, N. Rajamarthandan, has said he did "nothing wrong" by furnishing information about the Silapathar violence case under the Right to Information (RTI) Act.

A police source said Rajamarthandan told the crime branch of city police, which interrogated him last evening, that whatever information he had provided about the investigation into the March 6 Silapathar violence, in reply to an RTI application, was permissible under the RTI Act.

Rajamarthandan was put under suspension on Tuesday for disclosing classified information on the ongoing investigation into the Silapathar incident, in which an office of the All Assam Students Union (AASU) was attacked by a mob.

Based on a complaint lodged against him by CID deputy inspector-general Rounak Ali Hazarika, a case (number 311/2017) was registered against him at Paltan Bazar police station under Sections 120(B)/418/468/471 of the IPC and Section 98(A) of the Assam Police Act, 2007.

The police have alleged that Rajamarthandan violated service rules and provisions of the RTI Act. They also alleged that the postal order document that was submitted by the applicant along with the RTI application was filled up in his hand.

The source said Rajamarthandan told interrogators that though the CID cannot provide certain information under the RTI, information related to violation of human rights can be furnished under the act and since there was violation of human rights in the Silapathar incident, he did not violate any rule or provision by replying to the RTI application.

Rajamarthandan reiterated his stand before a television channel today, saying that the RTI Act is a very strong legislation and he could not have denied the information sought in the RTI application.

When contacted by The Telegraph, he, however, refused to comment. "I have been placed under suspension and an inquiry is going on against me. So, I would not comment anything at this moment. I will talk to you later," he said.

The police source said Rajamarthandan had, in reply to the RTI application filed by Nikhil Bharat Bangali Udbastu Samanway Samitee general secretary Ambika Ray on March 30, stated that there wasn't enough evidence to substantiate the involvement of the Samitee's president Subodh Biswas in the Silapathar incident.

"He also disclosed the plan of further investigation, which can derail the investigation," the source added.

City police commissioner Hiren Chandra Nath told reporters that Rajamarthandan was cooperating in the investigation and would be called for questioning again, if required.

On whether Rajamarthandan could be arrested, Nath said nothing could be said at the moment.

Nayan Moni Hazarika, an advocate of Gauhati High Court, today said, "Any information related to a criminal matter which is under investigation cannot be disclosed under the RTI Act."