Rajasthan IAS Officer Shikhar Agrawal Placed Under APO Amid Villa Purchase Allegations

Senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal has been placed under awaiting posting order (APO) by the Rajasthan government following reported allegations regarding property purchases. Officials stated the action was taken for administrative reasons.

According to a report published by a local newspaper, allegations surfaced that Agrawal, his IPS officer wife Prashakha Mathur, their two sons, and his parents-in-law purchased 40 villas and cottages from the same company over a period of two-and-a-half years.

Action Taken and Official Status

The personnel department issued an order late Wednesday night placing the 1993-batch IAS officer under APO until further orders. Prior to this, Agrawal served as the additional chief secretary (ACS) of industries, MSME, planning, and other departments. He also held responsibilities as the chairperson of the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) and managing director of RAJSICO.

Attempts to reach Agrawal for comments via repeated calls and messages were unsuccessful. Chief Secretary V Srinivas and ACS to the chief minister Akhil Arora also did not respond to calls and messages. Officials in the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) stated that there was no official confirmation yet regarding whether an inquiry or an internal probe would be initiated into the allegations.

Background and Career Context

Agrawal is among the senior-most IAS officers in Rajasthan and previously served in the CMO. He was transferred from the CMO following reports of differences with former chief secretary Sudhansh Pant. Furthermore, Agrawal was considered a contender for the chief secretary’s position ahead of the scheduled retirement of V Srinivas in February 2027.

Practical Implications and Verification

Readers seeking to verify official administrative actions can consult notifications issued by the Department of Personnel, Government of Rajasthan. Further updates on the matter depend on official communications from the state administration.