The Rajasthan government has placed IPS officer Prashakha Mathur on Awaiting Posting Order, a day after the Anti-Corruption Bureau opened a preliminary inquiry into allegations that her husband, senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal, misused his official position to favour a private company and provide benefits to members of his family.
Mathur, a 1995-batch IPS officer, was serving as additional director general of police for planning, modernisation and welfare at police headquarters. Agrawal, a 1993-batch IAS officer who was serving as additional chief secretary, industries, was placed on APO by the state government on Wednesday.
The ACB has clarified that its current inquiry is limited to Agrawal and allegations concerning Goyal Fashions Pvt Ltd, a hotels and resorts company. The bureau is examining whether the IAS officer used his official position to provide the firm with undue financial benefits, allegedly causing losses to the state exchequer.
According to the report, the bureau’s prima facie findings include the purchase of dozens of villas from Goyal Fashions in Udaipur and Alwar by Agrawal and Mathur at prices allegedly substantially below market value. Several other villas were reportedly purchased in the names of the couple’s two sons and Agrawal’s in-laws.
The allegations under examination also include claims that Agrawal colluded with the company’s directors and helped it secure relaxations in conditions governing resort construction, approvals without verification and a special concessional financial package. The ACB is assessing whether these actions resulted in substantial financial losses to the state.
No formal inquiry against Mathur has been announced so far. However, people close to the investigation told the Times of India that the bureau could expand the scope of its inquiry if warranted. Mathur could also be called for questioning, depending on the findings of the preliminary investigation.
The ACB is examining a factual report prepared by the industries department as part of its inquiry into Agrawal’s conduct. Bureau officials declined to comment on the report’s contents or the specific findings under examination.
A formal first information report could be registered against Agrawal if the preliminary inquiry substantiates the allegations. Until then, the claims remain under investigation and no finding of criminal liability has been announced by the authorities.
