'20 villas in Udaipur, 8 in Alwar': Why IAS officer, IPS wife face ACB probe

According to information gathered during preliminary investigations, Sikhar Agrawal and his IPS officer wife Prashakha Mathur purchased 10 villas each at the Bujhda resort in Udaipur for Rs 15 lakh apieceJAIPUR: The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Friday registered a preliminary inquiry against senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal for allegedly misusing his official position to favour a private company and causing financial losses to the state govt.The state govt formally approved of an investigation against Agrawal earlier in the day. He was serving as an additional chief secretary, industries, when he was put on awaiting posting orders (APO) status Wednesday.At the centre of the probe are alleged irregularities in the purchase of villas by Agrawal and family members.The bureau, in a statement, alleged that Agrawal colluded with the directors of Goyal Fashions Private Limited, which operates hotels and resorts under the brand name ‘Ananta’, to secure undue benefits for the company.These allegedly included relaxations in conditions governing resort construction, approvals without verification of mandatory certificates and a special concessional financial package.In the eye of a stormThe bureau said preliminary investigations also found that Agrawal colluded with the company’s directors to buy villas at its Ananta resorts in his own name and those of his family members. In March 2026, he allegedly purchased 20 villas at the company’s Bujhda resort in Udaipur, besides acquiring villas at its resort at Ajabgarh in Alwar district.Eight Ajabgarh villas bought for 16.5L eachAccording to information gathered during preliminary investigations, Sikhar Agrawal and his IPS officer wife Prashakha Mathur purchased 10 villas each at the Bujhda resort in Udaipur for Rs 15 lakh apiece. At the Ajabgarh resort in Alwar, eight villas were purchased in their names for Rs 16.5 lakh each.Their two sons acquired four villas at approximately Rs 15 lakh each, and an additional four were acquired in the name of other relatives for approximately Rs 16.5 lakh each.The bureau suspects that the family acquired these properties at prices substantially below market value.“Confidential sources have also revealed that Agrawal registered the purchase of 20 villas on March 27 this year, the same day the Finance Department issued a special concessional financial package to Goyal Fashions Private Limited,” the bureau claimed.It alleged that Agrawal colluded with the company’s directors during his tenure in govt, helping the company secure undue benefits and causing substantial financial losses to the state.ACB said it also found it necessary to investigate whether he had accumulated assets disproportionate to his known sources of income in his own name and those of his family members. The agency said it had perused newspaper reports, examined a factual report from the industries department and gathered information from confidential sources before registering the inquiry against Agrawal.The bureau said preliminary investigations also found that Agrawal colluded with the company’s directors to buy villas at its Ananta resorts in his own name and those of his family members.ACB said it was also examining alleged misuse by Agrawal of his official position during past tenures as Udaipur district collector, chairperson of the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board and additional chief secretary, Industries, among others.