Image Source: INDIA TODAY

A woman minister in the Yogi Adityanath-led Uttar Pradesh government has been embroiled in a controversy after activist Nutan Thakur sought an inquiry into an audio recording of a man allegedly offering a bribe to the minister's close relative. Speaking to news agency, activist Nutan Thakur claimed, “I got a mobile phone recording from a source in which there is a middleman speaking to a close relative of a woman minister in the UP government." He is offering Rs five lakh and a car to the minister's relative to get changes made in a list. This is a matter of corruption and I reported the issue at the integrated grievances redress system (IGRS) portal of the state government, he added. Based on my complaint, Ashiana police station in Lucknow investigated the matter and it is clear that police do not want to take any action. The police in its report said that only the person offering the money is stating it repeatedly and the other person is not heard asking for any bribe, Thakur said. Police has said as long as the name and voice sample of this middleman is not provided, it would be difficult to arrive at the true facts. The cops have said that expert opinion will be sought to take further action he added. In the audio clip of the phone conversation given by the activist, a person can be heard allegedly speaking to the minister's relative on phone and requesting if he could meet her the minister.