Invest UP issue: Change in final minutes of meeting raises eyebrows

: An alleged contradiction in the note sheet and the final minutes of the evaluation committee in connection with the recommendations of a committee regarding an online applicant intending to set up a solar plant has raised serious concerns in the corridors of power in Uttar Pradesh. A senior officer of the state government said whether Abhishek Prakash had any direct or indirect role in the issue of the alleged “change” in recommendations of Invest UP’s evaluation committee needs to be probed further. An official memorandum of the state appointment department dated March 20, has pointed out the contradictions in the note sheet on the file about the applicant’s case and the approved minutes of the same meeting. The note sheet has mentioned a recommendation saying, “The committee recommended the application to the HLEC for further recommendation and approval in the light of above negotiations on its strategic importance and case-to-case package being sought by the applicant.” It has been further observed that the minutes issued after approval of the CEO Invest UP mentioned the recommendation as: “The committee recommended that the application to be put up before Evaluation Committee again for re-evaluation after relevant details have been submitted by the applicant, YEIDA and UPPCL.” A senior officer said the contradiction between the recommendation of the committee, as mentioned on the note sheet about the complainant’s proposal and the final minutes, reflected serious lapses and a change in the recommendation.