They have called the police action uncalled for and shot off a letter to the President, informing him of the heavyhandedness.

"We were brought there at 9.30 pm and the questioning went on till 3.30 am. We were interrogated by the police and Intelligence Bureau (IB) officials and asked to disclose details about our background. Police was then sent to our homes at midnight to verify the details. We were being questioned as if we are part of some big conspiracy," said Manish Sisodia, an RTI activist. "We have given a memorandum to the president," Sisodia added.

The activists had gathered outside Vigyan Bhawan, where a CIC convention to mark a year of the RTI Act was being held. President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam was one of the guests at the function. The group carried banners that read: "President please allow us to speak for two minutes" and sack "CIC, save RTI". The protest was entirely peaceful, the activists said. Police say they were detained for a routine verification to clarify their personal details and background. "They were let off after a verification and no case has been registered," said a senior police