The Rajasthan government has removed senior Indian Administrative Service officer Shikhar Agrawal from his postings and placed him on awaiting posting orders status amid mounting scrutiny over large-scale real estate acquisitions. The 1993-batch officer, who was serving in multiple top administrative roles, faces allegations involving the purchase of numerous luxury properties linked to his immediate family. The state Department of Personnel issued the directive late Wednesday night, stripping the officer of all his active charges with immediate effect.
Department of Personnel Cites Administrative Grounds in Late-Night Order
The official order, signed by Department of Personnel Joint Secretary Dheeraj Kumar Singh, stated that Shikhar Agrawal has been placed under awaiting posting orders until further notice due to administrative reasons. The administrative action followed public disclosure regarding substantial property investments linked to the officer and his relatives. Agrawal is currently in the United States visiting his children. No order has been issued regarding his wife, who is a serving senior Indian Police Service officer.
Extensive Portfolio of Key Government Portfolios Stripped
Prior to being transferred to the waiting list, Agrawal held an extensive portfolio of high-level administrative responsibilities across Rajasthan. He served as the Additional Chief Secretary for Industries, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, State Enterprises, and the Delhi-Mumbai Industrial Corridor. Alongside these duties, he held the post of Officer on Special Duty for the Bhiwadi Integrated Development Authority.
His portfolio also extended to serving as Additional Chief Secretary for Investment, Non-Resident Rajasthani Affairs, and the Bureau of Investment Promotion. Furthermore, he functioned as the Chairman of the Rajasthan State Industrial Development and Investment Corporation and as the Chairman and Managing Director of RAJSICO. Having previously served as Additional Chief Secretary to the Chief Minister, his prior association with the Chief Minister's Office amplified the focus surrounding the recent property disclosures.
Scrutiny Over Acquisition of 40 Villas Within 30 Months
The decisive action by the state administration came after disclosures detailing extensive property transactions carried out over a short span. According to the documented details, Agrawal, along with his wife, senior IPS officer Prashakha Mathur, their two sons, and in-laws, acquired approximately 40 villas and cottages from a single real estate firm within a period of two and a half years.
The concentrated purchase of dozens of properties from a single developer triggered intense public debate and governance concerns across the state. Prompted by the growing controversy, the state government intervened to strip the senior bureaucrat of his administrative command and relegate him to pending posting status while the matter continues to draw attention.
