Jaipur: The Rajasthan government has issued seven-day show-cause notices to IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal and IPS officer Prashakha Mathur over alleged property disclosure discrepancies. Both face an ACB inquiry amid allegations of irregularities in 40 luxury property purchases.
Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas Says No Place for Corruption
Rajasthan Chief Secretary V. Srinivas, a 1989-batch IAS officer, has reiterated the state government’s zero-tolerance policy towards corruption. He met ACB Director General Govind Gupta as the government approved the inquiry and subsequently reaffirmed that the state would not tolerate corruption and was taking all possible steps to investigate the allegations.
The Chief Secretary’s position comes as the ACB examines allegations of official collusion, undue benefits to a private company and possible financial losses to the state exchequer.
Show-Cause Notices to Both Officers Over Property Declarations
The Department of Personnel issued the notices on October 30, asking both officers to explain why their online immovable property statements submitted since 2021 did not reflect the transactions subsequently brought to the government’s attention.
The notices refer to communications received by the state government under the All India Services (Conduct) Rules, 1986, concerning immovable property transactions undertaken after 2021.
The officers have been given seven days to submit their explanations. Rajasthan government sources have also indicated that Agrawal must provide a comprehensive clarification regarding the details reported in newspapers.
Read also: 40 Villa-Cottage Row: Rajasthan Puts IPS Prashakha Mathur on APO After IAS Husband Shikhar Agrawal
ACB Inquiry and Allegations Against Shikhar Agrawal
The Rajasthan government has approved an investigation against Agrawal under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The ACB registered a preliminary inquiry after its assessment indicated prima facie evidence of alleged collusion between the IAS officer and a private company, Goyal Fashions Pvt. Ltd.
According to the bureau, Agrawal allegedly misused his official position and influence to extend undue benefits to the company, including relaxations in resort construction conditions, approvals without verification of mandatory certificates and a special concessional financial package.
The ACB is also examining whether the alleged arrangement resulted in financial losses to the state government and whether properties acquired in the names of the officer and his family members represent assets disproportionate to their known sources of income.
Important distinction: The ACB’s publicly reported preliminary inquiry is currently against Shikhar Agrawal. A report by The Times of India says the bureau clarified that no formal inquiry had been announced against Prashakha Mathur so far. However, she has received a show-cause notice over property declarations and has been placed on APO.
40 Villas and Cottages Worth ₹6.16 Crore Under Scrutiny
The case centres on the alleged purchase of 40 luxury villas and cottages at two Ananta resort properties in Rajasthan from Goyal Fashions Pvt. Ltd.
Twenty cottages were purchased at the Bujhda property in Udaipur in September 2023, while another 20 villas were acquired at Ajabgarh in Alwar in March 2026. The combined reported value of the transactions is approximately ₹6.16 crore.
The properties were reportedly purchased by Agrawal, Mathur, their two sons and other family members. The ACB is examining whether the properties were acquired at prices substantially below their market value and whether the transactions were connected to alleged official favours extended to the company.
Properties Allegedly Leased Back to the Same Company
Another aspect under examination is the reported lease-back arrangement. The properties were allegedly leased back to the same company from which they were purchased, with agreements providing for annual rental income.
According to reports, the 20 Udaipur cottages were leased at ₹4 lakh each per year, while the 20 Alwar villas were leased at ₹5 lakh each per year. Together, the arrangements reportedly involved annual rental income of ₹1.80 crore.
The ACB is examining the financial structure of these transactions along with the alleged concessions and benefits extended to the company.
Who Are the Two Officers?
Shikhar Agrawal is a 1993-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre. Before being placed on APO on October 28, he held senior responsibilities, including Additional Chief Secretary-level positions in Industries, MSME and State Enterprises. He has also served in the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor and as Officer on Special Duty for the Bhiwadi Integrated Development Authority.
Prashakha Mathur is a 1995-batch IPS officer of the Rajasthan cadre. Before being placed on APO on October 31, she was serving as Additional Director General of Police in charge of Planning, Modernisation and Welfare.
Both officers have been removed from their active postings pending further administrative action.
Ashok Gehlot Demands CBI and ED Investigation
The controversy has also drawn political attention. Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot has demanded investigations by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) into the allegations.
Gehlot has questioned whether placing the officers on APO is sufficient and called for investigations by central agencies into the alleged property transactions and misuse of official position.
Seven-Day Deadline for Clarification
With show-cause notices issued to both officers and the ACB’s preliminary inquiry underway against Agrawal, the case has entered a crucial stage.
The immediate task before the officers is to respond to the Department of Personnel within seven days and explain the property transactions and disclosures. Meanwhile, the ACB will continue examining the alleged collusion, benefits extended to the private company and possible financial loss to the state.
Chief Secretary V. Srinivas’s statement on the government’s zero-tolerance approach to corruption has added to the administration’s public position on the matter. The findings of the inquiry and the officers’ explanations will determine the next steps.
Read also: 40 Villas, Government Concessions and APO: Why IAS Shikhar Agrawal Faces Calls for a CBI-ED Probe
