The Uttar Pradesh government on Thursday took decisive action against senior IAS officer and Invest UP Chief Executive Officer Abhishek Prakash, suspending him over allegations of corruption and irregularities in approving an investor’s project, officials confirmed.
In connection with the case, authorities also arrested Nikant Jain, an alleged middleman, on Thursday.
Prakash, a 2006-batch IAS officer, faced suspension following a complaint by a solar industry investor who accused Jain of demanding a commission to expedite project approvals.
Jain was taken into custody the same day.
Later, the state government released an official statement confirming Prakash’s suspension from his role as CEO of Invest UP, the agency responsible for attracting and facilitating investments in Uttar Pradesh.
According to officials, Jain was arrested for allegedly soliciting money from an entrepreneur in exchange for clearing a project proposal with assistance from Invest UP functionaries.
Nikant Jain (40), son of the late Sudhir Kumar Jain, was apprehended near Shahid Path, Husadiya Chowki in Gomti Nagar, police reported. His arrest followed the registration of an FIR based on a formal complaint.
The FIR was filed under BNS Section 308 (5) (extortion) and Sections 7, 12, and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
As per the FIR details, an industrial group had applied to establish a solar manufacturing unit in Uttar Pradesh through Invest UP.
Following an evaluation by a review committee, a senior Invest UP official allegedly instructed the applicant to contact Jain.
Jain is accused of demanding a 5 percent commission (bribe) to facilitate approvals from the Empowered Committee and the state cabinet, pressuring the applicant to make an advance payment.
When the applicant refused to comply, Jain allegedly warned him that the project would face unnecessary delays without his intervention, implying that bureaucratic obstacles were being deliberately imposed to extract bribes, the FIR revealed.
The case has brought renewed focus on transparency in investment approvals, and the government is expected to take further measures to prevent corruption within its agencies.
