Rajasthan government probes IAS officer and IPS wife for graft allegations
The Anti-Corruption Bureau is investigating Shikhar Agrawal and Prashakha Mathur over alleged collusion with a private hospitality company.
The Rajasthan government has authorised an Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) probe into senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal regarding allegations of favouring a private hospitality company. According to The Indian Express, Agrawal's wife, senior IPS officer Prashakha Mathur, has also been placed on Awaiting Posting Orders for administrative reasons.
The investigation concerns Agrawal's alleged dealings with directors of Goyal Fashions Private Limited, which operates resorts under the Ananta brand. The ACB alleges Agrawal used his official position to secure benefits for the company, including relaxations in construction rules and approvals issued without checking mandatory certificates.
Investigators are looking into the purchase of villas at two Ananta resorts in Bujhda, Udaipur, and Ajabgarh, Alwar. The ACB alleges these properties were purchased at prices substantially below market value in the names of Agrawal, Mathur, their two sons, and Agrawal's parents-in-law.
ACB Director General Govind Gupta said the state government granted prior approval under Section 17A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, to proceed with the inquiry. The probe will examine Agrawal's conduct during his tenures as District Collector of Udaipur, chairman of the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, and Additional Chief Secretary of the Industries Department.
The bureau is also investigating whether the Finance Department issued a special concessional financial package to the company on March 27, the same day 20 villas were reportedly registered to Agrawal and his family.