Jaipur: The Rajasthan government has placed senior IPS officer Dr. Prashakha Mathur, a 1995-batch officer serving as Additional Director General of Police (ADG), on Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) status amid the controversy surrounding the purchase of 40 villas and cottages by her family in Udaipur and Alwar.
The decision, taken on Saturday, October 31, 2026, comes after the state government placed her husband, 1993-batch IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal, on APO following reports about the property transactions.
The Department of Personnel issued the order placing Dr. Mathur on APO, citing administrative reasons. With this development, both the senior IAS-IPS officers are now awaiting fresh postings.
The controversy concerns the reported acquisition of 40 resort properties for approximately ₹6.16 crore over two and a half years. The properties were subsequently leased back to the company from which they were purchased, under agreements reportedly providing for annual lease payments totalling ₹1.80 crore.
The Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) is examining various aspects of the transactions, including the acquisition of the properties, their valuation, lease arrangements and sources of funds.
Who Is IPS Dr. Prashakha Mathur?
Dr. Prashakha Mathur is a 1995-batch Indian Police Service officer of the Rajasthan cadre who has served in several important positions in the state police administration.
Originally from Ajmer, Rajasthan, she holds an MBBS degree and a Master of Public Management (MPM) qualification. Before entering the police service, she pursued medical education, earning her the professional title of doctor.
According to her available service profile, she joined the Indian Police Service on September 5, 1996, and has completed nearly three decades in policing and administration.
She is married to IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal, a 1993-batch Rajasthan cadre officer who has held several senior administrative assignments in the state government.
Before being placed on APO, Dr. Mathur was serving as Additional Director General of Police, Planning, Modernization and Welfare, at the Rajasthan Police Headquarters.
Read also: 40 Villas, Government Concessions and APO: Why IAS Shikhar Agrawal Faces Calls for a CBI-ED Probe
Career: From District SP to Senior Police Leadership
During her career, Dr. Mathur has served as Superintendent of Police in several Rajasthan districts, including Sirohi, Jaipur Rural, Banswara, Pali and Ajmer.
These assignments gave her experience in district-level policing, law and order, crime prevention and police administration.
She subsequently held senior positions, including Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) in Jaipur and responsibilities in intelligence administration in Delhi.
Dr. Mathur also served as Director of the Rajasthan State Forensic Science Laboratory, a position associated with scientific investigation and forensic support to law enforcement agencies.
Between 2020 and 2023, she held responsibilities as Additional Director General in the State Human Rights Commission. She later served as ADGP, Re-Organisation, in Jaipur during 2023–24.
In October 2025, she was posted as ADGP, Planning, Modernization and Welfare, at the Rajasthan Police Headquarters. The assignment involved responsibilities connected with police administration, organisational planning and modernisation.
Her career has therefore covered district policing, headquarters administration, forensic services, human rights and police modernisation.
President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service
Dr. Mathur has also received recognition for her service in the police force.
According to her available professional profile, she was awarded the President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service in 2022.
The honour recognises distinguished contributions by police personnel during their careers.
Why Has Rajasthan Placed Dr. Prashakha Mathur on APO?
The latest administrative development follows reports concerning property purchases involving Dr. Mathur, her husband IAS Shikhar Agrawal and other family members.
The Rajasthan government had earlier placed Shikhar Agrawal on APO after details of the transactions came into the public domain.
Following that decision, attention turned to Dr. Mathur’s role in the reported purchases, particularly because some properties were registered in her name and those of family members.
On October 31, the state government issued an order placing her on APO as well.
However, the Department of Personnel has cited administrative reasons for the decision. The APO order should not, by itself, be interpreted as a finding of corruption or misconduct.
The allegations and questions surrounding the property transactions remain matters for examination by the competent authorities.
What Is the ₹6.16 Crore Villa-Cottage Controversy?
The controversy relates to the reported purchase of 40 villas and cottages at two resort properties in Rajasthan over approximately 30 months.
According to the reported transaction details, the properties were acquired by Shikhar Agrawal, Dr. Prashakha Mathur and members of their family for a combined consideration of ₹6,16,50,000.
The transactions reportedly took place in two batches.
In September 2023, the family purchased 20 cottages at Ananta Resort in Bujhda, Udaipur.
In March 2026, another 20 villas were purchased at Ananta Resort in Ajabgarh, Alwar district.
All 40 properties were reportedly purchased from Goyal Fashions Private Limited.
The purchases have attracted attention not only because of their number and reported value but also because the properties were subsequently leased back to the same company.
Properties Leased Back for ₹1.80 Crore Annually
One of the central aspects of the controversy is the lease arrangement associated with the 40 properties.
According to the reported documents, the 20 cottages purchased in Udaipur were leased back at an annual amount of ₹4 lakh per cottage.
This translates into a total annual lease amount of ₹80 lakh for the Udaipur properties.
Similarly, the 20 villas purchased in Alwar were reportedly leased back at ₹5 lakh per villa annually, amounting to ₹1 crore per year.
Together, the agreements provide for total annual lease payments of ₹1.80 crore for all 40 properties.
The reported annual lease amount is substantial when compared with the combined purchase consideration of ₹6.16 crore.
However, the lease amounts stated in the agreements should not automatically be treated as income actually received without confirmation of payments. The nature of the agreements, their commercial terms and the valuation of the properties are among the issues requiring examination.
Properties Registered in Names of IAS-IPS Couple and Family Members
The reported property documents indicate that the villas and cottages were registered in the names of Shikhar Agrawal, Dr. Prashakha Mathur and other family members.
These included Dr. Mathur’s parents, Manjula Mathur and Raghuvansh Narayan Mathur, as well as the couple’s two sons.
According to the information available, Dr. Mathur facilitated the registration of properties in the names of their sons through a power of attorney.
Of the 40 villas and cottages, 28 are reportedly registered in the names of Shikhar Agrawal and Dr. Prashakha Mathur.
The distribution of ownership among the family members has become another area of scrutiny in the case.
Questions Raised Over Immovable Property Returns
The controversy has also brought attention to the Immovable Property Returns (IPRs) submitted by the two officers.
Government officers are required to disclose relevant immovable property holdings in accordance with applicable service rules.
According to the reported details, IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal submitted his IPR on January 7, 2026, declaring 14 properties.
Dr. Prashakha Mathur reportedly submitted her IPR on January 8, 2026, showing no property holdings.
These disclosures have raised questions in light of the reported property registrations involving the couple.
However, the returns were filed before the reported March 2026 purchases in Alwar. Any examination of the disclosures would therefore need to consider the dates of acquisition, ownership details, applicable reporting requirements and the relevant disclosure period.
The question of whether any property was improperly omitted from a return would require examination of the original records and applicable service rules.
ACB Examining Property Purchases and Lease Agreements
The Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau is reportedly investigating the circumstances surrounding the acquisition and leasing of the properties.
The examination includes the reported purchase consideration, property valuations, ownership details, lease agreements and the sources of funds used for the acquisitions.
The transactions have also generated discussion within Rajasthan’s administrative and political circles because they involve two senior officers belonging to the IAS and IPS.
The placement of both officers on APO represents a significant administrative development, although the orders themselves cite administrative grounds rather than a determination of wrongdoing.
Further findings will depend on the investigation and examination of the relevant financial and property records.
IAS Shikhar Agrawal Also Awaiting Fresh Posting
Dr. Mathur’s husband, Shikhar Agrawal, is a 1993-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre.
During his administrative career, he has held responsibilities in several important departments and projects, including the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC) project.
The state government placed him on APO before taking similar action against Dr. Mathur.
With the latest order, both senior officers are now awaiting new postings while questions surrounding the 40 villa-cottage transactions remain under examination.
The case has drawn attention to property disclosures, financial transparency and the scrutiny of investments made by senior public servants and their families.
