The Rajasthan government has placed IPS officer Prashakha Mathur, wife of senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal, on Awaiting Posting Order (APO) status, citing “administrative reasons”. The decision comes a day after the state government approved an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) investigation on Friday, 30th October, against Agrawal over allegations of collusion with a private company and misuse of his official position.
Mathur is a 1995-batch IPS officer who was serving as Additional Director General (ADG) of Police, in charge of Planning, Modernisation and Welfare. Her transfer to APO status comes amid allegations that Agrawal extended undue benefits to a private firm operating hotels and resorts under the Ananta brand.
Rajasthan government approves ACB probe against Shikhar Agrawal
On Friday, 30th October, the Rajasthan government approved an ACB investigation against senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal after the bureau reported that its preliminary assessment had found “prima facie evidence” of collusion between the officer and the prie company. Rajasthan Government’s Department of Personnel issued an order placing senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal on awaiting posting orders(APO) due to administrative reasons until further notice.
Rajasthan Government’s Department of Personnel issued an order placing senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal, Additional Chief Secretary for Industries and MSME, on awaiting posting orders(APO) due to administrative reasons until further notice. The directive takes immediate effect. https://t.co/e6WeTIdWam
— IANS (@ians_india) October 29, 2026
The ACB said that Agrawal misused his official position and influence to secure undue benefits for himself and the company, resulting in financial losses to the state government.
STORY | Rajasthan: Senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal relieved of responsibilities, awaiting posting orders The Rajasthan government has placed senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal, who was serving as Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries Department, on Awaiting Posting Orders, citing administrative reasons. READ: https://t.co/WFOiVm2pZr
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 29, 2026
According to the bureau, these benefits included relaxations in conditions governing resort construction, approvals without proper verification of mandatory certificates and a special concessional financial package.
The ACB’s preliminary inquiry also pointed to irregularities in the purchase of 40 villas and cottages at the company’s resorts in Bujhda, Udaipur, and Ajabgarh, Alwar. The properties were reportedly registered in the names of Agrawal, his wife Mathur, their two sons and Mathur’s parents.
ACB Director General Govind Gupta said the bureau had examined reports concerning the allegations, a factual report received from the Department of Industries and information obtained from confidential sources. Based on these inputs, the bureau decided to register a preliminary inquiry and investigate the matter further.
Gupta also pointed out that 20 villas were allegedly registered in Agrawal’s name on 27th March, the same day the Finance Department issued a special concessional financial package to the company.
IAS-IPS family purchased 40 villas and cottages worth ₹6.16 crore
The property transactions involving Agrawal and his family have also come under scrutiny. OpIndia had earlier reported that the IAS-IPS family purchased 40 villas and cottages from a private company and subsequently leased them back to the same firm for an annual rent of Rs 1.80 crore.
According to a report by Dainik Bhaskar, the properties were purchased from Goyal Fashions Private Limited, which operates hotels and resorts under the Ananta brand. The family reportedly spent a total of Rs 6.16 crore on the 40 properties. These included 20 cottages at the company’s Bujhda resort in Udaipur and 20 villas at its Ajabgarh property in Alwar.
After purchasing the properties, the family leased all 40 units back to Goyal Fashions. Each cottage at Bujhda was leased for Rs 4 lakh annually, while each villa at Ajabgarh fetched an annual rent of Rs 5 lakh. Together, the properties generated rental income of Rs 1.80 crore every year.
The sale and lease documents were registered on the same day at the respective sub-registrar offices. The registrations involved Agrawal, Mathur, their two sons and Mathur’s parents.
Questions raised over annual property declarations
The transactions also raised questions about whether the properties were properly disclosed in the officers’ annual Immovable Property Returns (IPRs). 28 of the 40 properties were registered in the names of Agrawal and Mathur, with 14 properties each. However, the annual declarations did not reflect all the properties.
While Agrawal disclosed details of his 14 properties in his IPR, Mathur’s return did not mention the 14 properties registered in her name.
Agrawal has held several senior positions in the Rajasthan government, including District Collector of Udaipur, Chairperson of the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board and Additional Chief Secretary in the Industries Department.
He has also handled departments such as Industries, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME), State Enterprises, the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor, Investment and Domestic and Overseas Rajasthani Affairs. He additionally served as Chairperson of the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO), Chairman and Managing Director of Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation Limited (RAJSICO), and Officer on Special Duty for the Bhiwadi Integrated Development Authority.
