Lucknow: The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has quashed the vigilance inquiry initiated against 2006-batch Uttar Pradesh cadre IAS officer Abhishek Prakash in connection with a complaint relating to a proposed solar manufacturing project.
Justice Rajeev Singh, while allowing Prakash’s petition on September 17, 2026, set aside the inquiry proceedings and the government orders dated March 20 and March 28, 2025, under which action had been initiated against him.
The case originated from a complaint filed by a company official in March 2025 alleging that an intermediary had sought a payment equivalent to five per cent of the project value for facilitating approvals. During the subsequent court proceedings, however, the complainant submitted an affidavit stating that the complaint had been made due to a misunderstanding and that no money had been paid.
The High Court also took note of procedural issues concerning the initiation of the vigilance proceedings, including the absence of an affidavit accompanying the original complaint and the failure to obtain the required approval of the State Vigilance Committee.
Lucknow HC Quashes Vigilance Inquiry Against Abhishek Prakash
The proceedings challenged before the Lucknow Bench related to government orders issued on March 20 and March 28, 2025.
The complaint had been submitted by Biswajit Dutta, an official of a company that had proposed setting up a manufacturing unit for solar cells and solar modules in Uttar Pradesh.
According to the original complaint, a senior official associated with Invest UP had provided Dutta with the mobile number of Nikant Jain. Dutta alleged that Jain subsequently demanded five per cent of the project’s total value in return for securing approvals from the relevant committee and the state cabinet.
An FIR was registered against Jain, while departmental proceedings and a vigilance inquiry were also initiated in relation to Abhishek Prakash, who was then serving as Secretary of the Industrial Development Department and CEO of Invest UP.
The High Court’s latest order has now set aside the vigilance inquiry against Prakash and the associated government orders.
Court Questions Complaint Without Affidavit
A central issue before the High Court was the manner in which the complaint against the senior IAS officer had been initiated.
The petition argued that the vigilance inquiry could not have been initiated on the basis of a complaint that was not accompanied by the affidavit required under the applicable government instructions.
During the hearing, the Court noted that a 1997 government order makes an affidavit mandatory for complaints against Group-A officers. The purpose of the requirement is to provide a safeguard against complaints that may be filed without adequate accountability against senior government officials.
The Court also noted that departmental proceedings against Prakash had been initiated, but the authorities did not wait for their outcome before referring the matter to the Vigilance Department.
According to the petition, the mandatory approval of the State Vigilance Committee had also not been obtained before the vigilance inquiry was initiated.
The Court ultimately found that the procedural basis for continuing the vigilance action was not sustainable, particularly after the complainant himself clarified the circumstances surrounding the original complaint.
Complainant Later Says Complaint Was Due to Misunderstanding
The case took a significant turn when Biswajit Dutta filed a response in the court.
Dutta stated that his March 20, 2025 complaint had been filed due to a misunderstanding. He explained that, at the time the complaint was made, he was unaware that information relating to land availability and other aspects of the proposed project was still awaited from the Yamuna Expressway Industrial Development Authority (YEIDA) and the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL).
He also clarified that no money had been paid to Nikant Jain.
The company had submitted its proposal to Invest UP on December 3, 2024, seeking to establish a manufacturing unit for solar cells and solar modules.
The project subsequently went through the evaluation process of Invest UP.
Solar Project Was Already Under Evaluation
The company’s proposal was considered in meetings of the evaluation committee held on February 24, March 12 and March 25, 2025.
During the March 12 meeting, the committee sought additional information from the company because details relating to land availability and electricity subsidies were not yet available.
The matter was subsequently considered again on March 25. At that meeting, a recommendation was made to place the company’s proposal before the High-Level Empowered Committee.
Senior Advocate Gaurav Mehrotra, appearing for Abhishek Prakash, told the High Court that the project was already before the evaluation committee and that the committee had recommended that it be placed before the High-Level Empowered Committee.
The complainant’s subsequent affidavit stating that the original complaint arose from a misunderstanding became an important part of the court’s consideration.
FIR Against Nikant Jain Was Earlier Quashed
The latest order follows an earlier development in the same matter.
In February 2026, the Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court had quashed the FIR and chargesheet against Nikant Jain in the criminal case arising from the solar project complaint.
The court found that there was no evidence in the case diary showing that property had been delivered pursuant to a threat and no evidence that Jain had given or promised any undue advantage to an official of Invest UP, the High-Level Empowered Committee or cabinet members.
The court also took note of the complainant’s sworn statement that the complaint had arisen from confusion and misunderstanding and that no money had been paid.
The court consequently found no basis for continuing the criminal proceedings against Jain under the provisions invoked in that case.
The February ruling concerned the criminal proceedings against Jain; the September 17 order specifically deals with the vigilance inquiry and related government orders concerning Abhishek Prakash.
What Were the Original Allegations?
The original complaint that triggered the solar project case alleged that a five per cent payment had been sought for facilitating approval of the proposed project.
Reports at the time said the proposed solar manufacturing project was valued at around ₹8,000 crore. The allegations led to Prakash’s suspension in March 2025 while he was serving as CEO of Invest UP.
It is important to distinguish these original allegations from the subsequent judicial developments. The allegations were the basis for the government’s action at the time; the complainant later told the court that the complaint resulted from a misunderstanding, and the criminal proceedings against Jain were subsequently quashed. The latest High Court order has now quashed the vigilance inquiry against Prakash.
Apart from the solar project matter, various allegations concerning Prakash’s earlier postings have also appeared in media reports. These include claims concerning land acquisition for the Defence Corridor, his tenure at the Lucknow Development Authority, land transactions in districts where he served as District Magistrate, and alleged land purchases involving family members.
These allegations should be understood as reported allegations rather than established findings against the officer.
Defence Corridor Land Allegations
One set of allegations concerned land acquired for the Defence Corridor in the Bhatgaon area of Lucknow during Prakash’s tenure as District Magistrate.
Reports alleged that, as chairman of the land acquisition committee, he and officials in the tehsil administration had arbitrarily determined land rates.
Other allegations concerned the conversion of land associated with the Scheduled Caste category into saleable land and the subsequent claiming of compensation estimated at around ₹20 crore through alleged collusion involving officials and intermediaries.
These claims have been reported in connection with the wider scrutiny of Prakash’s tenure and are separate from the vigilance inquiry quashed by the High Court on September 17, 2026.
Allegations During LDA Tenure
Another set of allegations relates to Prakash’s tenure as Vice-Chairman of the Lucknow Development Authority.
Reports have carried allegations that certain builders received favourable treatment, including claims concerning sealing orders and licences, while files relating to other builders were allegedly delayed.
These claims have been part of the broader allegations reported against the officer but are distinct from the solar project complaint considered in the latest High Court proceedings.
Allegations Linked to Aligarh, Lakhimpur Kheri and Hamirpur
Prakash has served as District Magistrate in Aligarh, Lakhimpur Kheri and Hamirpur.
Media reports have carried allegations relating to land transactions in Aligarh, alleged manipulation of government tenders in Lakhimpur Kheri and alleged links with persons involved in mining activities in Hamirpur.
The claims have been reported as allegations and should not be treated as judicially established findings unless supported by a final adjudication or official determination.
Allegations Concerning Land Purchases
Reports have also carried allegations that around 700 bighas of land were purchased in Lakhimpur Kheri and Bareilly in the names of family members and companies associated with the family.
The allegations included claims concerning approximately 400 bighas in Bareilly and possible irregularities relating to stamp duty.
These claims have appeared in reports concerning the wider scrutiny of Prakash’s assets and earlier postings. They are separate from the vigilance inquiry that the Lucknow Bench has now quashed.
Who Is IAS Abhishek Prakash?
Abhishek Prakash is a 2006-batch Indian Administrative Service officer of the Uttar Pradesh cadre. He is a direct-recruit IAS officer through the UPSC Civil Services Examination and has spent around two decades in public service.
According to his publicly available service profile, he is currently serving as Secretary to the Government of Uttar Pradesh in the General Administration Department in Lucknow. His current posting is recorded from May 25, 2026.
His date of birth is November 21, 1982, and his home state is Bihar.
He completed his B.Tech in Electronics Engineering from IIT Roorkee and also holds a master’s qualification in Public Administration/Public Policy.
From Early Career to Key UP Postings
Prakash’s career has included postings across several districts and departments in Uttar Pradesh.
He has served as District Magistrate of Lucknow, Bareilly, Lakhimpur Kheri, Aligarh and Hamirpur, besides holding several Secretariat and development-related assignments.
He served as Lucknow District Magistrate from October 2019 to June 2022, including during the COVID-19 pandemic.
During his tenure as Lucknow DM, his administration’s response included a “3T Strategy” — Tracking, Testing and Treatment — and a large-scale home-delivery system for citizens during lockdown. These initiatives were highlighted in profiles of his tenure.
Invest UP and Industrial Development Role
Prakash subsequently moved into the state’s industrial development and investment promotion machinery.
He served as Secretary of the Industrial Development Department and CEO of Invest UP, where his responsibilities included facilitating investments and coordinating the state’s investment promotion efforts.
Media reports have credited his tenure with facilitating a large number of investment proposals and MoUs. The Indian government and state-government-linked investment promotion framework has involved multiple departments and committees in processing such proposals.
It was during this period that the solar manufacturing project complaint of March 2025 arose and eventually led to his suspension and the subsequent legal proceedings.
Suspension in March 2025 and Return to Service
Prakash was suspended on March 20, 2025, after the complaint concerning the proposed solar project was received.
At the time, the government initiated departmental proceedings and a vigilance inquiry. Contemporary reports said the action followed allegations that a five per cent commission had been sought through intermediary Nikant Jain in connection with the project.
The legal position subsequently changed.
In February 2026, the Lucknow Bench quashed the criminal proceedings against Jain, noting the absence of evidence supporting the offences alleged and taking into account the complainant’s clarification that his complaint had arisen from a misunderstanding.
The Uttar Pradesh government subsequently revoked Prakash’s suspension with effect from March 15, 2026, and posted him as Secretary in the General Administration Department. At that stage, reports stated that the departmental inquiry was continuing.
The September 17, 2026 High Court order has now separately quashed the vigilance inquiry and the government orders through which it was initiated.
What the Latest High Court Order Means
The latest ruling brings another significant judicial development in the matter involving the former Invest UP CEO.
The Court’s decision rests on the circumstances surrounding the original complaint, the complainant’s subsequent sworn clarification, and procedural requirements governing complaints against Group-A officers.
The Court noted that the complainant himself had stated that the complaint was made because of a misunderstanding and that no money had been paid to Nikant Jain.
It also took note of the absence of the mandatory affidavit accompanying the original complaint and the lack of State Vigilance Committee approval for the vigilance proceedings.
On these grounds, the Lucknow Bench set aside the vigilance inquiry and the government orders dated March 20 and March 28, 2025.
IAS Prakash is currently serving as Secretary in the General Administration Department of the Uttar Pradesh government.
