Rajasthan IAS Officer Under Investigation for Alleged Corruption

Jaipur, October 30 (Daily Kiran) : The Rajasthan government has authorized the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to conduct a thorough investigation against senior IAS officer Shikhar Agarwal. Allegations suggest that Agarwal misused his position and conspired with directors of a private company to provide undue advantages, reportedly leading to significant financial losses for the state.

According to a press release from the ACB’s public relations department, this approval comes under Section 17-A of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. The investigation will also scrutinize property acquisitions by Agarwal and his family in resorts. ACB Director General Govind Gupta stated that the bureau has conducted a detailed inquiry based on a factual report received from the industry department.

Initial findings and confidential sources indicate the necessity of a formal investigation. The ACB’s preliminary inquiry suggests that Agarwal allegedly abused his official position while serving in several key roles in Rajasthan, including as the District Collector of Udaipur, Chairman of the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board, and Additional Chief Secretary of the Industry Department.

These allegations are linked to Agarwal’s purported connections with directors of Goyal Fashion Private Limited, which operates hotels and resorts under the ‘Ananta’ brand. The ACB claims that the company received undue benefits, including exemptions from resort construction regulations, approvals without mandatory certificate verifications, and special discounted financial packages.

The preliminary investigation has raised questions about the purchase of villas at Ananta Resorts in Bujhda (Udaipur) and Ajabgarh (Alwar district) in the names of Agarwal and his family members. The ACB reports that ten villas were purchased at Bujhda for ₹1.5 million each, while eight villas at Ajabgarh were allegedly bought for ₹1.65 million each.

Additionally, four more villas were registered under the names of Agarwal’s two sons at approximately ₹1.5 million each, and four others under his in-laws’ names for about ₹1.65 million each. The ACB suspects these properties were acquired at prices significantly below their market value.

The bureau also highlighted the timing of these transactions. Confidential information revealed that the registration of 20 villas in Agarwal’s name occurred on March 27, 2026. On the same day, the finance department reportedly issued a special discounted financial package to Goyal Fashion Private Limited. Given these circumstances, the ACB deems it essential to conduct a detailed investigation into the transactions, the alleged benefits provided to the company, and the potential financial losses to the state government.