Lucknow, July 29 -- Energy minister AK Sharma on Sunday suspended two officials in Ballia district for demanding bribe from two power users so as to not file an FIR for electricity theft against them. Vigilance junior engineer Gopichand Gupta and enforcement in-charge sub-inspector Amit Kumar Yadav were suspended with immediate effect.

The action, according to a government spokesman, was taken based on an audio clip of the officials demanding money from one Vivek Kumar Chauhan and Ankit Kumar Yadav of Chandrawar village in the district.

The minister has also directed Firozabad SP to take disciplinary action against then head constable Rajkumar, currently posted in Firozabad . He issued a stern warning to all department personnel and vig...