The Madhya Pradesh forest department has refused to provide information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act on the management of cheetahs brought from Africa and their cubs born in India, PTI reported.

In response to a request filed by wildlife activist Ajay Dubey, the department cited Section 8(1)(a) of RTI Act, which allows a public authority to withhold information if its disclosure would prejudicially affect the sovereignty and integrity of India, or the security, strategic, scientific, or economic interests of the State, or relations with a foreign country, or lead to the incitement of an offence.