Invest UP CEO IAS Abhishek Prakash suspended, CM Yogi takes strict action against corruption
The Uttar Pradesh government has suspended Invest UP CEO and former District Magistrate of Lucknow, Abhishek Prakash (IAS: 2006: UP), on charges of bribery. The action was taken after evidence emerged that Prakash, through his employee, sought a 5% commission from an industrialist for setting up a solar plant in the state.
Bribery Allegations and Arrest
The case came to light when an industrialist approached Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath with a complaint that his solar plant project had been stalled due to a demand for a bribe by the IAS officer. According to reports, Prakash’s employee, Nikant Jain, acted as an intermediary and asked the industrialist to pay a commission in exchange for project approvals.
Following the complaint, the Special Task Force (STF) launched an investigation and arrested Jain. During questioning, Jain reportedly admitted to the bribery demand and revealed that he was acting on behalf of Abhishek Prakash. Based on this confession and other evidence, an FIR was registered against both Prakash and Jain at the Gomti Nagar Police Station.
Government Action and Inquiry
In response to these allegations, the Uttar Pradesh government immediately suspended Abhishek Prakash and ordered a departmental inquiry. The inquiry aims to examine the extent of his involvement in the case and whether similar corrupt practices were carried out in other projects under his supervision.
Prakash, who currently serves as the Secretary of the Department of Industrial Development in addition to his role as CEO of Invest UP, has been a prominent bureaucrat in the state. However, this is not the first time he has faced allegations of corruption.
Previous Allegations: ₹20 Crore Land Scam
Earlier, Prakash was accused of involvement in a ₹20 crore scam related to land allotment in the Lucknow node of the Defence Corridor. The allegations suggested that irregularities took place in the allocation of land to private firms, raising concerns about corruption at high levels within the administration.
Impact and Next Steps
The suspension of a senior IAS officer on bribery charges has sent shockwaves through the bureaucratic and industrial sectors in Uttar Pradesh. The government has assured that strict action will be taken if the allegations are proven. Meanwhile, the investigation is ongoing, and further legal proceedings against Prakash are expected based on the findings of the inquiry.
