Former managing director of Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation Limited (UPPCL), AP Mishra was arrested on Tuesday in connection with the investment of over Rs 2,600 crore of power employees’ provident fund in tainted non-banking finance company DHFL.
“Mishra has been arrested. The Economic Offences Wing of UP Police is probing the matter and stern action will be taken against those involved in the case,” Director General of Police OP Singh said.
An official spokesman said that Mishra, who was close to former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and known as ‘Arab Pati Mishra’ was sacked as MD on March 24, 2017 after the Yogi Adityanath government assumed office
“Apprehending his termination, Mishra took away many important files. He was the first engineer to be promoted as MD of UPPCL and given extension thrice by the Samajwadi Party regime after his retirement,” he said.
The spokesman further said that Mishra was also seeking a ticket from Samajwadi Party to contest the Lok Sabha poll and was involved in various scams during the previous regime.
Yogi Adityanath’s office attacked Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Twitter over the issue.
“The attack on corruption by ‘zero tolerance sword’ of Yogi Adityanath has made those involved in corrupt practices run for cover. Former UPPCL MD, AP Mishra, the blue-eyed boy of Akhilesh Yadav, has been taken into custody,” said a tweet.
It questioned Akhilesh Yadav about the nature of their relationship and said the present government was committed to ensure the security of the employees’ money.
An FIR was filed at Hazratganj police station in Lucknow on Sunday against then Secretary of Power Sector Employees’ Trust of UPPCL, Praveen Kumar Gupta and then Director, Finance of the PSU, Sudhanshu Dwivedi. Both were arrested the same day and sent to jail.
The state government had earlier recommended a CBI probe into the case and the Chief Minister had directed the DG of Economic Offences Wing (EOW) to investigate the case till the CBI took over investigations.
In the late hours of Monday, UPPCL Managing Director Aparna U was the third top head to roll as she was removed from her post by the state government and sent to Irrigation department. M Devraj, who returned from Central deputation recently, was made the new Power Secretary and MD of UPPCL.