Jaipur, Nov 2026 : Senior Rajasthan IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal, who was awaiting posting orders (APO), has returned to Jaipur from the United States, with the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) likely to question him in connection with allegations involving the purchase of 40 villas at prices substantially below market value.
Agrawal, an Additional Chief Secretary (ACS), reportedly arrived in Jaipur on Tuesday and visited the Department of Personnel (DoP) to formally mark his return. His arrival is expected to bring fresh momentum to the ACB's preliminary enquiry into the alleged villa and cottage purchase irregularities.
The Rajasthan ACB may summon the senior officer to seek an explanation regarding the transactions. The agency registered a Preliminary Enquiry (PE) against him on October 31, following approval from the state government. His wife, IPS officer Prashakha Mathur, is also within the scope of the investigation.
The case centres on allegations that Agrawal purchased 40 villas from a private company at rates significantly lower than their prevailing market value. He is accused of allegedly misusing his official position to secure undue benefits for himself and the company, resulting in a possible financial loss to the state government.
The allegations came under scrutiny while Agrawal was in the US on a private visit over the past few days. With his return, the ACB is expected to take up further examination of the transactions and may seek details from him about the circumstances surrounding the purchases.
No conclusion has been established regarding the allegations, and the preliminary enquiry is expected to examine the transactions and the role of those concerned.
Agrawal is a 1993-batch IAS officer of the Rajasthan cadre and has held several senior administrative positions during his career. His previous assignments include Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister, Additional Chief Secretary of Environment and Forests, and Commissioner of the Jaipur Development Authority (JDA).
He has experience in areas including environmental conservation, urban development and administrative coordination. He has also served under successive state governments and was associated with the implementation of several major government programmes.
The ACB's next steps, including whether Agrawal will be formally summoned for questioning, are expected to determine the course of the preliminary enquiry.
(Disclaimer :The content of this article is sourced from a news agency and has not been edited by the Mavericknews30 team.)
