ED raids premises linked to ‘middleman’ Nikant Jain in bribery probe involving former UP Invest CEO

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted searches at four locations linked to Nikant Jain, a suspected middleman in a bribery case involving Abhishek Prakash, IAS officer, and former CEO of UP Invest.

The premises searched include Jain’s residence, two properties that serve as registered offices of companies associated with him and his family, and a commercial building-cum-hotel where his relatives are listed as directors.

Sources said the agency has seized several incriminating documents. The material is being examined for evidence of money-laundering and quid pro quo arrangements.

The case stems from allegations that Jain had asked for a 5% commission, purportedly on behalf of Prakash, for facilitating approval of a solar power plant project through Invest UP, the state’s nodal agency for investment promotion.

On March 20, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath suspended Prakash from his post and ordered a departmental probe after the bribery allegations surfaced. The same day, Lucknow police arrested Jain for allegedly acting as the conduit in the deal, though the bribe money was not recovered from him.

The ED investigation is focused on tracing the money trail, if any, and identifying the broader network of individuals involved in facilitating project approvals in exchange for kickbacks.