Jaipur: Rajasthan government has issued an Awaiting Posting Order (APO) for senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal amid a property‑purchase controversy. The personnel department’s order, issued late night on 28 October, places him on hold pending further orders. While the order cites administrative reasons, it does not explicitly mention the property dispute.
What is the full story?
According to media reports, 1993‑batch IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal, his IPS officer wife Prashakha Mathur and other family members are alleged to have purchased around 40 villas and cottages from a single real‑estate company over a period of about two and a half years, with a total value of roughly ₹6.16 crore.
Reports say the properties include 20 villas in Ajabgarh, Alwar district, and 20 cottages in Bujhda, Udaipur district. It is alleged that after purchase, the properties were leased back to the same company from which they were bought.
Claim of ₹1.80 crore annual lease
Media reports cite lease agreements generating approximately ₹1.80 crore per year in rental income, with ₹4 lakh per cottage annually in Udaipur and ₹5 lakh per villa annually in Alwar.
Questions have also been raised about the purchase of these properties and the officials’ asset declarations. However, it is important to distinguish between the allegations in the reports and the findings of any investigations.
Handled responsibilities of several key departments
Before being placed under APO, Shikhar Agrawal held positions across various important departments and institutions, including MSME, state enterprises, investment promotion and the Delhi‑Mumbai Industrial Corridor (DMIC). He was also Chairman of the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation (RIICO) and Chairman and Managing Director of the Rajasthan Small Industries Corporation (RAJSICO). Following the personnel department’s order, he was relieved of these key responsibilities and kept on hold pending further posting.