Nikant Jain arrested for soliciting bribe in India

Nikant Jain, a 39-year-old man, was arrested in Lucknow on Thursday for allegedly seeking a bribe. He was acting as a middleman for a senior IAS officer, Abhishek Prakash, who is the CEO of Invest UP. Jain reportedly requested 5% of the total cost of a solar power plant project as a commission for getting the project approved. Jain comes from a family with strong political and bureaucratic connections. His father, Sudhir Kumar Jain, was a successful businessman and contractor. After his father's death, Nikant expanded his network, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, and became close to several IAS officers, including Prakash. The arrest happened after a complaint from SAEL Solar P6 Private Limited about Prakash's conduct. The government stated that Prakash had acted with ulterior motives and violated conduct rules. As a result, Prakash has been suspended from his position. Despite only completing Class 10, Jain was known for his excellent networking and communication skills. Many in his community believed he had ties to the government, which helped him operate effectively in these circles. Local authorities were surprised that he hadn't pursued further education due to his confidence and manner of dressing.