The CEO of Invest UP, Abhishek Prakash, has been removed for alleged ‘malicious intent, vested interest and unfair financial gain’ to inspire investor confidence in the state, as well as to make good on the Uttar Pradesh chief minister’s assertion that corruption will not be tolerated.
Prakash, till now a trusted IAS officer, who cleared the Union Public Service Commission exam, securing the eighth rank in 2005, was responsible for issuing letters of comfort to all forms applying to invest in Uttar Pradesh online after a review.
On March 20, Vishwajit Dutta, on behalf of SAEL Solar P6 Private Limited complained that the company’s file was postponed, despite a favourable recommendation by the review committee as the company did not pay the commission demanded by Nikant Jain, apparently at the behest of Prakash.
The company had applied to make parts for solar cells, solar panels, and equipment used for solar energy.
After a committee had reviewed the proposal, Prakash allegedly told the company representatives to meet Jain and that if he said so, an empowered committee and the state’s cabinet would green-light the project.
When Dutta met Jain, he was allegedly asked to pay five per cent of the total cost of the project as advance. Jain allegedly also said that if the payment was not made the project would not get approved, no matter how much Dutta tried.
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This was despite the fact that the committee had already referred the case to a high-level empowered committee, given its ‘strategic importance’.
At yet another meeting on March 12, the evaluation committee also recommended that a letter of comfort be issued to the company, but Prakash asked to re-evaluate it.
While Jain has been arrested, Prakash has been suspended. This action was taken under the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1968, which sets the ethical standards and code of conduct for IAS officers, emphasizing integrity, impartiality, and public service. In addition to disciplinary action, further action will be taken against him after an investigation into the matter.
