High Court Quashes Corruption Case Against Nikant Jain, IAS Officer Abhishek Prakash Likely to Get Relief

Lucknow: The Lucknow Bench of the Allahabad High Court has quashed the criminal case against businessman Nikant Jain, which involved allegations of corruption and illegal extortion. The court ruled that, based on the available facts and evidence, no prima facie offense could be established.

Nikant Jain was accused of demanding a 5% bribe from an entrepreneur in exchange for approving a solar manufacturing unit under the ‘Invest UP’ scheme. Based on a complaint sent by the company’s representative to the Chief Minister, an FIR was registered on March 20, 2025, at Gomtinagar Police Station. Jain was arrested, and the investigation was later handed over to the Special Task Force (STF).

During the hearing on the petition, a single bench of Justice Rajiv Singh also set aside the charge sheet filed on May 15, 2025, and the summons issued on May 17, 2025.

Court Observations
The defense argued that the allegations against Jain were vague and lacked evidence, describing the case as a result of business rivalry and administrative confusion. They also noted that no proper site inspection was conducted during the investigation, and no alleged recovery of ₹1 crore was made.

The court observed that no substantive evidence had been presented to prove that the accused offered undue advantage to any public servant. It clarified that under the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Prevention of Corruption Act, no prima facie offense had been made out. Furthermore, the complainant admitted that the complaint had been filed based on a misunderstanding.

Implications for IAS Officer Abhishek Prakash
With the case against Nikant Jain now dismissed, the legal troubles of former Invest UP CEO and IAS officer Abhishek Prakash may ease. Prakash had been suspended on March 20, 2025, when Jain was named the main accused. The Department of Appointments had also issued a charge sheet seeking an explanation. Sources indicate that the complaint against him has now been withdrawn, raising the possibility of his reinstatement in the near future.