Invest UP CEO Suspended Amid Alleged Irregularities In Solar Project Approval Process

Abhishek Prakash, who serves as the CEO of Invest UP and former district magistrate of Lucknow, was suspended on Thursday (20 March) after allegations of irregularities in the evaluation process for a proposed solar manufacturing project in the state, Times of India reported.

On the same day, city police arrested a middleman accused of soliciting a bribe for clearing the solar project. The alleged demand was made on behalf of a senior official of Invest UP.

According to a government press release cited in the ToI report, the charges against Prakash, a 2006-batch IAS officer, were investigated and have been, prima facie, found to be true.

The inquiry concluded that Prakash’s conduct could obstruct the goals of the UP Industrial Investment and Employment Promotion Policy 2022, damaging investor confidence and tarnishing the state’s image as an investment-friendly destination, the press release added.

The chief minister’s office (CMO) directed a probe into the case after receiving a complaint, ToI reported citing government sources.

The complaint, filed by Vishwajit Datta of SAEL Solar P6 Pvt Ltd, was addressed to the CMO.

Datta stated that his company wanted to set up a manufacturing unit for solar cells and solar power-related parts in UP.

Datta alleged that officials at Invest UP sought 5 per cent of the project cost as a bribe to clear the proposal. He asserted that he refused to pay the bribe.

According to Datta, his firm had submitted the application both to Invest UP and through an online portal.

Before the evaluation committee could review it, a senior Invest UP official gave him with the contact details of Nikant Jain.

Datta was told that if Jain recommended his project, it would be cleared immediately by the evaluation panel and state cabinet.

Jain then reportedly made a demand of 5 per cent of the project cost as commission and asked for the amount in cash in advance, a demand Datta said he rejected.

Despite securing approval from the evaluation committee, the project was not finally cleared.

In his complaint, Datta alleged that Jain reiterated that he alone could facilitate the project's final approval.

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