LUCKNOW, Aug. 8 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Thursday conducted raids on the premises of Nikant Jain, a close associate of suspended IAS officer Abhishek Prakash, in connection with allegations of demanding commission for approving a project in Invest UP, Lucknow unit officials of the central agency confirmed.

The searches were carried out at Jain's residences and offices in Lucknow's Gomti Nagar, including his house and office in Vikram Khand, as well as at Hotel Regent, owned by Rajender Singh Bagga, who is also a partner in the Golden Blossom Resort. Raids were also conducted at Jain's locations in Meerut and Gautam Buddha Nagar (Noida).

The ED also visited the homes of Bagga and Saurabh Seth, both identified as associates ...