The Rajasthan Anti-Corruption Bureau has sought records of pollution control clearances, regulatory changes and environmental approvals issued between April 2022 and February 2024 as part of its investigation into alleged misuse of official position by IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal.
In a letter sent to the Rajasthan State Pollution Control Board on Monday, the bureau asked for details of projects that received No Objection Certificates and other clearances during the period. Agrawal served as chairperson of the board between 2023 and 2024.
The ACB has specifically asked whether changes were made to the checklists governing Consent to Establish and Consent to Operate. These approvals are mandatory for projects before construction and during operations, respectively. If changes were made, the board has been asked to provide the revised requirements, the reasons for the changes and the associated records.
The bureau has also sought information on changes to conditions related to land conversion and No Objection Certificates from the forest department. The board has been asked to identify whether such changes took place and which level of authority approved them.
The inquiry also covers the ecologically sensitive Nahargarh hills. The ACB has asked whether revisions were made to the area’s Zonal Master Plan or its Eco-Sensitive Zone notification. If any changes were introduced, the agency has requested details of the revisions, their stated justifications and the relevant files and note sheets naming the approving authority.
The records sought by the bureau could establish how environmental and construction-related permissions were processed during the period under examination. They also concern whether regulatory checklists and land-use conditions were altered, and whether the changes were supported by documented approvals.
Agrawal, who until recently served as additional chief secretary in the industries department, was placed on the Awaiting Posting Orders list on October 28. The ACB registered a preliminary inquiry against him on October 30 under the Prevention of Corruption Act after receiving formal approval from the state government. His wife, IPS officer Prashakha Mathur, was placed on the APO list on October 31.
The investigation centres on alleged irregularities involving the purchase of villas by Agrawal, Mathur and family members at resorts built by Goyal Fashions, a private company, in Udaipur and Alwar. According to the report, the bureau has alleged that Agrawal colluded with the company’s directors to secure undue benefits for the firm.
The alleged benefits include relaxations in conditions governing resort construction, approvals issued without verification of mandatory certificates and a special concessional financial package. The latest request for records expands the inquiry beyond the transactions involving the resorts to the wider regulatory decisions and approval systems that may have affected such projects.
The Pollution Control Board is expected to provide the requested clearances, revised checklists, land-conversion and forest-clearance records, and documents relating to Nahargarh hills for the ACB’s ongoing preliminary inquiry.
