Shikhar Agrawal placed on APO amid property controversy

The Rajasthan government has placed senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal, formerly the Additional Chief Secretary for Industries, on Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) following allegations of large-scale property acquisitions. The administrative action follows media reports claiming Agrawal and his family purchased 40 villas and cottages from a single private company, Goyal Fashions Private Limited, over a two-and-a-half-year period.

The properties, located in Ajabgarh, Alwar, and Bujra, Udaipur, were reportedly purchased for approximately 6.16 crore rupees. Investigations suggest the properties were subsequently leased back to the same company, generating an estimated annual lease income of nearly 2 crore rupees.

In addition to the property row, the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) has been granted approval to conduct a detailed investigation into allegations that Agrawal misused his official position to provide undue benefits to private entities. Furthermore, an organization based in Jaipur, Public Against Corruption, has formally requested a CBI investigation into potential corruption and disproportionate assets.