IAS Officer and IPS Wife Face Anti-Corruption Bureau Probe in Rajasthan Over Alleged Resort Villa Irregularities

Preliminary Inquiry Registered in Jaipur

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) registered a preliminary inquiry on Friday against senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal and his IPS officer wife, Prashakha Mathur, over alleged irregularities involving property acquisitions and official favouritism. The state government formally approved the investigation earlier in the day, following Agrawal's placement on awaiting posting orders (APO) status on Wednesday while he was serving as additional chief secretary for industries.

Alleged Resort Villa Purchases Under Scrutiny

According to the ACB statement reported by the Times of India, the probe centers around the purchase of multiple villas at 'Ananta' brand resorts operated by Goyal Fashions Private Limited in Udaipur and Alwar districts.

• Udaipur Property: Investigators claim Agrawal and his wife each purchased 10 villas at the Bujhda resort in Udaipur for Rs 15 lakh apiece.
• Alwar Property: Eight villas were reportedly purchased in their names at the Ajabgarh resort in Alwar district for Rs 16.5 lakh each.
• Other Relatives: The bureau stated that their two sons and other relatives also acquired additional villas at similar price points.

The bureau suspects the family acquired these properties at prices substantially below market value. Confidential sources reportedly indicated that the purchase of 20 villas was registered on March 27, coinciding with the day the Finance Department issued a special concessional financial package to the private company.

Allegations of Official Misuse

The ACB alleged that Agrawal abused his official position during his tenure to grant undue benefits to Goyal Fashions Private Limited. The reported claims include:

• Relaxations in resort construction conditions.
• Approvals granted without verifying mandatory certificates.
• Delivery of a special concessional financial package, causing financial losses to the state government.

Authorities are additionally examining whether the family accumulated assets disproportionate to known sources of income, alongside reviewing his past tenures as Udaipur district collector, chairperson of the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, and additional chief secretary for industries.

Verification and Next Steps

As this is an ongoing preliminary inquiry, the allegations remain reported claims by the anti-corruption agency. Members of the public and interested observers can verify official developments by consulting statements released directly by the Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau or reviewing official state government notifications.