Businessman accusing IAS officer of bribery detained by Lucknow police 

Lucknow: Businessman Abhishek Gupta, 23, who had accused a senior IAS officer posted as principal secretary to the CM, of bribery, was detained on charges of fraud and playing imposter here on Friday.

Gupta was picked up after BJP state headquarters in-charge Bharat Dixit sent a written complaint to Lucknow SSP Deepak Kumar accusing the businessman of mounting pressure on senior government officials seeking undue favours by pretending to be a BJP worker.

Dixit, in his letter (copy with TNIE), to the SSP claimed that he was informed by Shubhrant Shukla, special secretary in CM office, that Gupta was trying to seek favours from senior officers in the administration by dropping names of BJP’s state general secretary and other office bearers.

However, the Lucknow police detained Gupta just before his press conference at Lucknow’s Press Club. In an e-mail written to state governor, Gupta had accused SP Goel, Principal Secretary to CM, of demanding a bribe of Rs 25 lakh in lieu of land needed to set up a petrol pump in Hardoi.

Lucknow’s senior superintendent of police Deepak Kumar confirmed that Gupta was detained and his interrogation was on over the issue. The SSP claimed that Lucknow police were trying to find the facts.

Notably, Police had booked Gupta for fraud and impersonation under Sections 420 and 501 of IPC by filing an FIR against him on Thursday night.

The controversy surfaced on Thursday night when a letter forwarded by State Governor Ram Naik to CM Adityanath informing about Gupta’s complaint against Goel was leaked on social media.

Meanwhile, Abhishek Gupta’s relatives, including his grandfather OP Gupta and sister Alpana Gupta reached CM house to seek his release on Friday.