The Uttar Pradesh government has reinstated IAS officer Abhishek Prakash nearly a year after he was suspended over corruption allegations. According to an official order issued on Saturday, the officer will resume duty from March 15, though the departmental inquiry against him will continue.
Suspension Over Solar Project Bribery Allegations
Prakash, a 2006-batch IAS officer, was suspended on March 20, 2025, when he was serving as the CEO of Invest UP. After the suspension, he was attached to the Board of Revenue.
The action followed a complaint by Ferozpur-based businessman Vishwajit Datta of SAEL Solar P6 Pvt Ltd. Datta alleged that he was asked to pay a 5% bribe of the project cost to establish a solar power plant in Uttar Pradesh. The alleged demand was conveyed through businessman Nikant Jain, who was reportedly acting at Prakash’s behest.
High Court Quashes Case Against Businessman
In a significant development last month, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court quashed criminal proceedings against Jain, who had been booked on charges related to extortion and corruption in the proposed solar power project.
The court observed that no prima facie offence was made out in the case. During the proceedings, the complainant also stated that the complaint had arisen due to a misunderstanding and confirmed that no money had been exchanged.
Departmental Inquiry Will Continue
The complaint was originally submitted to Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath in March 2025, following which the state government initiated an investigation and suspended Prakash.
At the time, the government noted that his presence in office could affect investor confidence and hinder the implementation of the UP Industrial Investment and Employment Promotion Policy 2022. A criminal case was also registered by Lucknow Police.
While the government has now reinstated the officer, officials confirmed that the departmental probe into the allegations will continue.
