Jaipur: Senior Rajasthan IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal (1993: RJ) has returned to Jaipur from the United States and reported to the Department of Personnel (DoP) on November 11, after remaining on leave for his overseas visit. His return comes amid an ongoing Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) preliminary inquiry into alleged irregularities surrounding the purchase of 40 villas and cottages by him and his family members.
Agrawal’s wife, Prashakha Mathur, a 1995-batch IPS officer of the Rajasthan cadre, accompanied him on the US trip. Both officers have been placed on Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) by the Rajasthan government amid the controversy. Consequently, Agrawal does not currently hold any departmental assignment.
According to reports, the ACB may seek his explanation and question him about the property transactions. The bureau has already registered a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) and is collecting documents from government departments, district administrations and the private company involved in the transactions.
What Is the 40-Villa Purchase Controversy?
The case concerns the purchase of 40 properties at two resort locations in Rajasthan from Goyal Fashions Private Limited, which operates hotels and resorts under the Ananta brand.
According to media reports, Agrawal, Mathur and their family members purchased 20 villas at Ajabgarh in Alwar and 20 cottages at Bujhda in Udaipur. The combined reported purchase value of these properties was approximately ₹6.16 crore.
The transactions attracted scrutiny after reports alleged that the properties were acquired at prices substantially below their prevailing market value. Another aspect under examination is that the properties were reportedly leased back to the same company from which they had been purchased.
The reported lease arrangements provided for annual payments of ₹4 lakh per cottage at Bujhda and ₹5 lakh per villa at Ajabgarh. Together, these agreements amounted to a reported annual lease value of ₹1.80 crore.
ACB Examining Alleged Official Favour to Company
The ACB’s preliminary inquiry is examining allegations that Agrawal misused his official position to extend undue benefits to Goyal Fashions Private Limited.
The allegations include alleged relaxations in conditions related to resort construction, approvals granted without verification of required certificates and the grant of a special concessional financial package to the company.
The bureau is also examining property registration documents, the consideration paid for the properties and the source of funds used for the purchases. It has sought records from the Industries and Public Works departments, along with relevant documents from the Udaipur and Alwar district administrations.
The inquiry is also looking into whether the company’s alleged benefits from government decisions were connected to the property transactions.
Both Officers Placed on APO
The Rajasthan government placed Agrawal on APO on October 28, following reports concerning the property purchases. His wife, IPS officer Prashakha Mathur, was also placed on APO on October 31.
The Department of Personnel had additionally sought explanations from the officers over discrepancies concerning their immovable property declarations. Reports on the notices stated that they were asked to clarify why certain property transactions after 2021 were not reflected in their online annual immovable property statements.
Agrawal is a 1993-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre. He has held several senior positions in the state government, including Additional Chief Secretary-level responsibilities in the Industries and MSME departments.
With the officer back in Jaipur and the ACB continuing to gather documentary evidence, the next stage of the preliminary inquiry is expected to focus on the property transactions and the decisions taken by the government departments concerned.
Read Also: 40 Villa-Cottage Row: Rajasthan Puts IPS Prashakha Mathur on APO After IAS Husband Shikhar Agrawal
