The move comes after the Opposition attacked the BJP government over investments of more than Rs 2,600 crore of the UPPCL EPF in scam-hit housing finance firm DHFL.

Aparna U has been shifted to the irrigation department as secretary. M Devraj, who has returned from central deputation, will be the new power secretary and UPPCL managing director, a government spokesperson said.

The Samajwadi Party and the Congress have demanded that Power Minister Shrikant Sharma and the principal secretary of his department be dismissed. The SP also demanded a probe by a sitting high court judge into the scam.

Congress workers held a protest demonstration over the issue in Lucknow and demanded dismissal of Sharma, saying that a scam of this size cannot take place without the “connivance” of the minister.

Last Saturday, the state government had recommended a CBI probe into the matter. The state government had on Sunday claimed that the “dubious” decision was taken by the previous government headed by Akhilesh.