40 villas bought in 2.5 years: Rajasthan government places IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal, IPS wife on APO as ACB probes alleged villa purchases

Rajasthan's Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has opened an investigation into senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal following allegations that he and his family acquired around 40 villas and cottages from a single real estate company within two and a half years, ANI reports. The development comes after the state government approved the bureau's request to proceed under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Agrawal and his wife, IPS officer Prashakha Mathur, have both been placed under Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) until further directions. Mathur, who was serving as Additional Director General of Police (Planning), has also been relieved of her current responsibilities, according to orders issued by the state's Department of Personnel.

The action against the two senior officers follows public scrutiny over a media investigation that raised questions about property transactions involving their family members. The allegations concern purchases reportedly made by Agrawal, Mathur, their two sons and their in-laws.


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What are the allegations against IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal?

The controversy centres on the alleged acquisition of approximately 40 villa cottages from one real estate company over a period of around 30 months. According to the media investigation, the purchases involved Agrawal and members of his family, including his wife, two sons and in-laws.

The revelations prompted questions about the scale of the transactions and brought the senior bureaucrat's property dealings under scrutiny. The ACB subsequently approached the Rajasthan government seeking approval to initiate proceedings under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act.

The state government granted the requested permission, allowing the bureau to take up the matter for investigation. The allegations are now subject to scrutiny and have not, by themselves, established any wrongdoing by the officers.

Shikhar Agrawal and wife Prashakha Mathur placed under APO

The Rajasthan government has also removed Agrawal and Mathur from their respective assignments by placing them under APO status. The orders were issued by the Department of Personnel.

Before the government action, Agrawal held several senior administrative responsibilities in Rajasthan. His portfolio included Industries, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), State Undertakings and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). He was also serving as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) at the Bhiwadi Integrated Development Authority.

In addition, Agrawal held responsibilities related to Investment, Non-Resident Rajasthani Affairs (NORA) and the Bureau of Investment Promotion (BIP). He was also the chairman of Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) and chairman and managing director of RAJSICO.

The government order stated that Agrawal, an IAS officer of the 1993 batch, had been placed under APO until further orders for administrative reasons.

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ACB investigation follows media report on family property purchases

The action marks a significant development in the controversy surrounding the alleged property acquisitions. The media investigation brought the transactions into public focus, following which the state government relieved Agrawal of his extensive administrative responsibilities.

With the ACB receiving the necessary government approval under Section 17A, the alleged purchases are now set to be examined by the agency. The investigation will determine the circumstances surrounding the transactions and whether they raise any issues under the applicable anti-corruption law.