Politics1 min read

'Villa scam': IPS Prashakha Mathur now put on APO; IAS husband currently abroad

By · Via Times of India · Published by Everything Blog

In short

The enforcement action stems from preliminary findings that senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal facilitated an unverified concessional financial package and relaxed construction conditions for Goyal Fashions Pvt Ltd. In return, Agrawal and his wife allegedly bought dozens of villas across Udaipur and Alwar at steep discounts. While Agrawal was serving as additional chief secretary of industries, his current travel abroad means formal questioning awaits his return to the country. Although the formal probe currently targets Agrawal, investigators may broaden their investigation to question Mathur.

Key points

  • The state anti-corruption agency is investigating allegations of disproportionate asset a…: The state anti-corruption agency is investigating allegations of disproportionate asset accumulation and misuse of official administrative positions.
  • Investigators indicated that a formal First Information Report may be registered if the p…: Investigators indicated that a formal First Information Report may be registered if the preliminary inquiry substantiates the corruption allegations.
  • Although the preliminary inquiry is restricted to Shikhar Agrawal, authorities have not r…: Although the preliminary inquiry is restricted to Shikhar Agrawal, authorities have not ruled out questioning Prashakha Mathur.

Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1

JAIPUR: The Rajasthan government has placed IPS officer Prashakha Mathur on Awaiting Posting Order (APO), a day after the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) opened a preliminary inquiry into allegations that her husband, senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal, misused his official position to favour a private company in return for benefits to himself and members of his family.

Mathur, a 1995-batch IPS officer, was serving as additional director general of police (ADGP), planning, modernisation and welfare, at police headquarters. Agrawal, a 1993-batch IAS officer, was serving as additional chief secretary, industries, when the state government placed him on APO on Wednesday.

Following Saturday’s action against Mathur, the ACB clarified that its ongoing inquiry is currently limited to Agrawal and allegations that he misused his official position to benefit hotels and resorts firm Goyal Fashions Pvt Ltd, causing losses to the state exchequer.

Although no formal inquiry has been announced against Mathur so far, sources in the ACB said the possibility of the agency expanding the scope of its inquiry to include her cannot be ruled out.

What are the allegations against Agrawal?

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