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.