It seems like IAS officers in Uttar Pradesh are competing for the “Most Creative Ways to Get in Trouble” award lately. First, we had Pooja Singhal, the corruption queen, then Puja Khedkar, who tried to sneak through the civil services exam with some sneaky caste and quota tricks. And now, stepping into the ring is Abhishek Prakash, the CEO of Invest UP, who’s allegedly been treating his government job like a personal piggy bank. Houses, bungalows, 700 bighas of land—apparently, being an IAS officer comes with some serious real estate perks these days!

On March 20, 2025, the Uttar Pradesh government decided they’d had enough of Prakash’s antics and suspended him faster than you can say “bribe.” Turns out, he was allegedly using a middleman named Nikant Jain—who’s now enjoying a lovely stay in jail—to demand a cheeky 5% commission on a solar power plant project just to give it the green light. Guess a regular salary wasn’t cutting it for Prakash, so he thought, “Why not ask for a little extra on the side?” The Lucknow Police didn’t find it as funny as he might have hoped, though. They’ve filed a case against Jain at Gomti Nagar Police Station under BNS Section 308 (5) for extortion, plus Sections 7, 12, and 13 of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Jain, a Meerut boy living in Gomti Nagar’s Viram Khand, probably didn’t expect his middleman gig to come with free room and board courtesy of the state.

The Uttar Pradesh government wasn’t about to let Prakash off with a slap on the wrist either. In their official statement, they said he’d gone and broken the All India Services (Conduct) Rules -1968, Section -3—basically the rule that says, “Hey, don’t be shady.” After a quick investigation, they found the accusations against him weren’t just hot air. Here’s what they said, straight from the horse’s mouth: “Malicious intent of Invest UP CEO Abhishek Prakash, vested interest and unfair financial gain could be the reason for this…In the case, prima facie Abhishek Prakash has been found responsible. This is a violation of the All India Services (conduct) rules -1968 section -3. Abhishek Prakash is being suspended with immediate effect. Further disciplinary action will be taken against him as per IAS (RR-2006).” Translation? Prakash is in big trouble, and suspension is just the start.

For those wondering, the All India Services (Conduct) Rules -1968, Section -3 is the guidebook that’s supposed to keep IAS officers honest—like a “How to Not Be a Crook” manual. Clearly, Prakash skimmed that chapter. And get this—the suspension came right after Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath stood up in Gonda and told a crowd, “No one will be spared if found guilty.” Talk about perfect timing! Yogi must’ve had his “I mean business” face on, because hours later, Prakash was out of a job.

So, how did this all come crashing down? It started with Vishwajeet Dutta from SAEL Solar P6 Private Limited, who wasn’t in the mood to play Prakash’s game. On March 20, he filed a complaint, saying his company’s solar project—making parts for solar cells, panels, and equipment—got a thumbs-up from the review committee, but Prakash wouldn’t sign off. Why? Because Dutta didn’t cough up the 5% commission Prakash was asking for through Jain. Dutta said Prakash told him to meet Jain, who laid it out clear as day: pay up front, or your project’s dead in the water. SAEL Solar had applied online and offline for this big-deal project, but apparently, Prakash saw it as a big-deal payday instead.

Now, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has rolled up its sleeves and jumped in, investigating what they’re calling an extortion racket inside Invest UP, with Prakash as the star of the show. They’re looking into how he allegedly shook down solar plant projects for commissions. The ED’s planning to file a money laundering case based on the FIR from Gomti Nagar Police Station, and they mean business. When SAEL Solar spilled the beans about the bribe demands, it was like pulling the thread on a very messy sweater—the whole thing started unraveling, and Prakash got suspended faster than you can say “caught red-handed.”

The ED isn’t stopping there. They’re digging into Jain’s companies, following the money trail to see where it leads and who else might’ve been in on the action. And here’s the juicy part—rumor has it Prakash has been living the high life, snapping up assets like houses, bungalows, and 700 bighas of land that his IAS salary couldn’t possibly cover. Sounds like someone’s been shopping with a little extra cash! The ED’s also looking back at Prakash’s time as Invest UP CEO, checking out every evaluation committee meeting to see if he was rejecting projects that didn’t come with a bribe or pushing through ones that did. They’re teaming up with the Lucknow Police Commissionerate, Vigilance Department, and Appointments Department to gather all the paperwork and build a solid case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).

Who is IAS Officer Abhishek Prakash

Abhishek Prakash, born in 1982, is a 2006-batch IAS officer who’s had quite a ride in the government world. Until recently, he was wearing two big hats: Secretary of the Uttar Pradesh Government’s Infrastructure and Industrial Department and CEO of Invest UP, the state’s go-to agency for attracting investments. Before that, he spent a long stretch as the District Magistrate (DM) of Lucknow, probably getting used to calling the shots in the big city. His career also took him to the DM’s chair in Lakhimpur Kheri, Aligarh, and Hamirpur districts. With all those postings, Prakash has seen plenty of action—though lately, it seems he’s been making headlines for all the wrong reasons!

Defence Corridor Land Acquisition Case and the “Corrupt” Role of Abhishek Prakash

Just when Abhishek Prakash thought his solar project commission drama was enough to handle, here comes another curveball: the Defence Corridor Land Acquisition Case. The Revenue Council sent a file to the government, and it’s looking like Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath might give it the green light soon. If that happens, Prakash’s troubles could pile up higher than a stack of paperwork on a bureaucrat’s desk. In this case, 18 officers—including Prakash, who was the Lucknow DM at the time—are facing accusations of corruption. Looks like some folks forgot that public service isn’t a free pass to play Monopoly with real land!

The ball got rolling when Dr. Rajneesh Dubey, the former Chairman of the Revenue Board, investigated and sent a detailed report to the government. Some officers have already been hit with charge sheets, and if CM Yogi says yes to opening the Defence Corridor file, Prakash might find himself in even deeper water. He’s already under fire for allegedly asking for a 5% commission on that solar project, so adding this to the mix is like pouring fuel on an already blazing fire.

So, what went down in this Defence Corridor mess? It all started in Bhatgaon Gram Panchayat, located in Sarojini Nagar Tehsil of Lucknow, which was chosen for the Defence Corridor project. This wasn’t just any project—it included a manufacturing setup for the Brahmos missile, and lots of defence companies were eyeing the land. With so much buzz, land prices in Bhatgaon shot up like crazy. That’s when the land mafia smelled an opportunity. Teaming up with some tehsil officers, they bought land from local farmers for next to nothing, then turned around and claimed huge compensation payouts. Some officers even sneaky-put land in the names of their servants and relatives—guess they thought no one would notice!

The investigation report laid it all out. It found proof that documents were twisted to add fake allottees, bending the rules left and right. Non-transferable leased land, which wasn’t supposed to be sold, was magically made transferable and then flipped. Compensation went to outsiders listed as “owners,” while the officers handing out the money didn’t bother double-checking who really owned the land. Sloppy work or a clever trick? Either way, it didn’t look good.

Here’s the money part, straight from the report: “Rs 45.18 crore was sanctioned for about 35 hectares of land in Bhatgaon, in this, however, irregularities of around Rs 20 crore were uncovered.” That’s 20 crore rupees gone fishy—not exactly pocket change! The report pointed fingers at Prakash, who was DM back then, and his team in Sarojini Nagar tehsil. One suspended employee even threatened to spill the beans on the whole scam after getting the boot—talk about a sore loser turning whistleblower.

The Revenue Board’s early investigation didn’t hold back. They found Prakash, along with the ADM, SDM, and Tehsildar, guilty of messing things up. Four employees got suspended, but Prakash’s role really stands out. As chairman of the land acquisition committee, he allegedly set land rates however he felt like it, working with the tehsil crew to make it happen. Rules? More like guidelines for him, it seems.

Abhishek Prakash’s Controversial Tenure as Lucknow Development Authority’s Vice-Chairman

Abhishek Prakash’s troubles don’t stop at the Defence Corridor Case or that recent “pay me 5% for approval” solar project scandal. Nope, this guy’s been keeping busy! During his time as Vice-Chairman of the Lucknow Development Authority (LDA), he’s been accused of rolling out the red carpet for his favorite builders while playing hardball with others. Reports say he was all about tearing down illegal constructions—good for the headlines, right?—but then quietly helped out builders he liked. He’s also said to have handed out licenses like candy to his pals in places like Aashiyana, while sitting on the files of builders he didn’t favor, probably with a little nudge from his LDA buddies. Guess some officers think “development” means developing their own little fan club!

Abhishek Prakash Colluded with Mining Mafias and Rigged Land Purchases During His Multiple Postings as DM

Prakash’s adventures as District Magistrate in Kheri, Hamirpur, and Aligarh sound like a movie script gone wrong. In Aligarh, folks complained he was rigging land purchases and sales—because who doesn’t love a good land deal with a twist? In Lakhimpur Kheri, several complaints rolled in saying he was messing with government tenders, probably making sure the “right” people got the gigs. And in Hamirpur, he allegedly teamed up with the mining mafia—because nothing says “public servant” like cozying up to folks digging up the earth for profit. It’s like he was collecting accusations instead of merit badges during his DM days!

IAS Abhishek Prakash Bought 700 Bighas of Land in His Family’s Name During His Tenure as DM of Two Districts

Here’s where it gets juicy: Prakash allegedly scooped up 700 bighas of land while he was DM of Lakhimpur Kheri and Bareilly, and he didn’t even put it in his own name—too obvious, right? Instead, he spread the love to his family—mom, dad, and brother—and even cooked up some fake companies to stash the goods. Oh, and he didn’t stop there; he’s also accused of grabbing 400 bighas in Bareilly. To top it off, there’s talk of dodging stamp duty in both places. The Department of Personnel and Training (DOPT) caught wind of this and told the UP government, “Hey, maybe look into this?” Looks like Prakash was building a family estate while the rest of us were just paying bills!

Abhishek Prakash Amassed Huge Wealth and Properties During His Tenure as District Magistrate

During his time as Lucknow’s DM, Prakash didn’t just sit around—he allegedly built himself a little empire. We’re talking a house in Ansal Housing Society, a bungalow in Aashiyana, and even a villa in the city. How does a government salary stretch that far? Well, he had some help from middlemen Nikant Jain and Lucky Jafri, who were like his personal deal-makers. These two would hustle commissions to get project files moving through Prakash’s desk. It’s almost cute how they turned bureaucracy into a cash machine—except, you know, it’s not supposed to work that way!

UP CM Yogi Adityanath’s Zero-Tolerance Policy Against Corruption, 11 IAS Officers Suspended

While Abhishek Prakash’s alleged antics have left people shaking their heads, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath is out here earning applause for his no-nonsense stance on corruption. He’s not playing around, and Prakash isn’t the only IAS officer feeling the heat—11 of them have been suspended so far under Yogi’s watch. In November 2024, IAS Ghanshyam Singh got the boot for dragging his feet on measuring fields in Lakhimpur Kheri. In July 2024, IAS Devisharan Upadhyay was suspended for randomly restoring leases on 35 plots in Aligarh while he was a Judicial Revenue Council Member. Back in 2022, IAS TK Sheebu got sidelined for shady mining deals, and IAS Sunil Kumar Verma was suspended as Auraiya’s DM for misuse of power and corruption.

The list goes on: IAS Devendra Pandey was suspended as Unnao’s DM for financial hiccups in the Basic Education Department’s purchases. IAS Amarnath Upadhyay got the axe while DM of Maharajganj for budget irregularities in cow protection centers—because even the cows deserve better! IAS Kumar Prashant was suspended in June 2018 as Fatehpur’s DM for rigging wheat procurement, and alongside him, IAS Jitendra Bahadur Singh got suspended as Gonda’s DM for embezzling government grains. IAS Kedarnath Singh was kicked out of the tourism department, and IAS Sharda Singh was suspended as UP’s Chakbandi Commissioner for dodging OBC quota rules in recruitment. Eleven officers down, and Yogi’s still swinging—guess some folks didn’t get the memo that corruption doesn’t pay in his state!

It’s almost funny how Prakash and his fellow IAS buddies thought they could keep this game going. While Yogi’s out here cleaning house, Prakash was busy building one—well, several, actually. From land grabs to builder favors, his career’s been a wild ride, but it looks like the road’s finally running out. With 11 suspensions and counting, it’s clear UP’s top boss isn’t in the mood for excuses—or extra bungalows.