Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, August 8, 2025 — The Enforcement Directorate (ED) launched a major operation yesterday, raiding multiple locations in Lucknow, Meerut, and Noida tied to Nikant Jain, a close associate of suspended IAS officer Abhishek Prakash. The raids are part of a money laundering probe linked to allegations of bribery and a ₹4 crore bank loan fraud involving Jain, who is accused of acting as a middleman for Prakash during his tenure as CEO of Invest Uttar Pradesh.
Raids Target Key Locations
On Thursday morning, ED teams swept through five locations, including Jain’s residence in Vishal Khand, Gomti Nagar, two offices registered to companies linked to Jain and his family, a hotel where his relatives are directors, and the home of Rajendra Bagga, owner of Golden Blossom Hotel. Sources say Jain used this hotel to host officials, and incriminating documents, bank statements, and digital devices were seized during the raids. The ED is digging into financial transactions to uncover a wider network of corruption, with suspicions that money may have flowed to other officials’ accounts.
Jain, already in Lucknow jail, faces serious charges. He was arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on March 20, 2025, for allegedly demanding a 5% commission on a solar power project on behalf of Prakash. A 1,600-page charge sheet has been filed against him, and a separate FIR at Hazratganj police station accuses Jain, his brother Sukant, and sister Vaishali of defrauding Indian Bank of ₹4 crore using forged documents.
Abhishek Prakash Under Fire
Abhishek Prakash, a 2006-batch IAS officer, was suspended in March 2025 after SAEL Solar P6 Private Limited lodged a complaint with the Chief Minister’s office. The company alleged that Prakash, through Jain, demanded a hefty bribe to approve their solar project. The Uttar Pradesh government, under CM Yogi Adityanath’s zero-tolerance policy on corruption, acted swiftly, suspending Prakash for violating All India Services Conduct Rules. He now faces five probes, including two disciplinary inquiries, police investigations, a vigilance probe, and the ongoing ED investigation. Allegations also include irregularities in land deals during his time as Lucknow’s District Magistrate and amassing wealth beyond his known income.
What’s Next?
The ED’s raids have sent shockwaves through Uttar Pradesh’s bureaucratic circles. With Jain’s arrest and the seizure of key evidence, authorities are piecing together the extent of the alleged corruption network. The investigation is likely to widen, with more raids and arrests possible as the ED examines financial records. Prakash, once a trusted officer, faces a tough road ahead as probes into his role deepen.
