Uttar Pradesh: White powder recovered from Assembly a non-explosive material, Government suspends FSL director

The 150 gm white substance recovered from Uttar Pradesh state assembly on July 12 was found to be silicon oxide (SiO2) and not highly explosive material PETN.

Uttar Pradesh principal secretary Arvind Kumar told the media,"Shiv Bihari Upadhyay, Director of State Forensic Science Laboratory,  got the substance examined and in the report submitted by him white substance recovered from the assembly was said to be PETN positive. When the National Investigative Agency (NIA) got it tested from CFSL, Hyderabad, it was found to be Silicon Oxide (Quartz) and not the dangerous explosive."

After the development, Upadhyay has been suspended for allegedly giving a misleading, incomplete, wrong and unconfirmed report about the substance recovered in the state Assembly, added the principal secretary.

According to reports, Upadhyay allegedly tested the substance using an explosive detection kit whose usage date had expired in March last year.

Kumar added that a probe has been initiated and it will be investigated by Vigilance director Hitesh Awasthi.

On basis of the report submitted by Upadhyay, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had earlier told the Assembly that the white powder recovered under the seat of Ram Govind Choudhary,leader of the Opposition, was highly explosive material — PETN.

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister had ordered the NIA to probe the matter and had said, “The security of House is our concern. This is part of a dangerous conspiracy and must be exposed.”

Soon after the recovery he had the Uttar Pradesh Police to verify each employee and officials working in Vidhan Sabha.