Rajesh Savaliya, 31, had launched a drive to expose the education mafia operating in the city. He had also reportedly complained to the District Education officer about a number of city schools functioning without proper licences. Rajesh Savaliya, 31, had launched a drive to expose the education mafia operating in the city. He had also reportedly complained to the District Education officer about a number of city schools functioning without proper licences.

An RTI activist of Surat, who was found with multiple injuries on his head and shoulder on the National Highway-8 in Navsari on Wednesday, succumbed later in the night in a private hospital.

The victim, 31-year-old Rajesh Savaliya, had launched a drive to expose the education mafia operating in the city. He had also reportedly complained to the District Education officer about a number of schools functioning without proper licences or approval letters. He is also said to have received threat calls allegedly from the education mafia, the last over a month ago.

A resident of Mahalaxmi society in Punagam area in Varachha, Rajesh’s father Vinay Savaliya told the police that his son had left house on Tuesday evening for a friend’s construction site at Pardi in Valsad district. Rajesh was given a ride in a car by one of his friend’s mother and sister who reportedly dropped him on NH-8.

On Wednesday evening, Rajesh’s friend Vijay Patel received a call from city’s Navsari Civil Hospital about him being severely injured.

Police said Vijay, along with five others, reached the hospital and learnt that the 108 ambulance services had received a call about a person found lying by the roadside near Sai Baba temple on NH-8 in Navsari. Vijay shifted Rajesh, who had received severe injuries on his head, left shoulder and stomach, to a private hospital in Surat. Vijay informed Rajesh’s family members who also reached the hospital. On Wednesday night, however, Rajesh was declared dead by doctors.

Rajesh was cremated at Ashwanikumar cremation home in Varachha on Thursday afternoon. Several RTI activists attended his funeral.

The Punagam Police have started a probe after registering a case of accidental death in this regard. “We have called Rajesh Savaliya’s friend who has a construction site at Pardi in Valsad district to record his statements. At present, we have registered a case of accidental death, and not of murder. We will bring out call data records of the victim and call those who had been regularly in touch with him.”

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