Rajasthan IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal shunted out over 40-villa purchase row
Synopsis
Rajasthan has shunted out senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal over the purchase of 40 villa-cottages from a single company for ₹6.16 crore — then leased back to the same company at ₹2 crore a year. An IPS officer has now piled on, alleging a 50% stake in a 400-room Mumbai-area resort and calling for a CBI probe that he claims could expose dealings worth over ₹1,000 crore.
Key Takeaways
Shikhar Agrawal , senior IAS officer and Additional Chief Secretary (MSME), was placed on APO by the Rajasthan Personnel Department on 29 October 2026 .
Allegations centre on the purchase of 40 villa-cottages — 20 in Ajabgarh (Alwar) and 20 in Bujra (Udaipur) — from a single private company for approximately ₹6.16 crore .
The properties were reportedly leased back to the same company, generating an annual lease payout of around ₹2 crore .
IPS officer Pankaj Chaudhary has alleged Agrawal holds a 50% stake in a 400-room resort project at Karjat, near Mumbai .
Chaudhary has called for a CBI investigation , claiming it could reveal financial dealings exceeding ₹1,000 crore .
No formal investigative agency referral has been announced by the Rajasthan government as of yet.
Senior Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer Shikhar Agrawal has been placed on Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) by the Rajasthan government following allegations centred on the purchase of 40 villa-cottages from a single private company over a period of two-and-a-half years, the state's Personnel Department confirmed on Wednesday night, 29 October 2026. The order cited administrative reasons, but the move comes amid mounting scrutiny over the transactions and additional allegations by a serving IPS officer.
The Villa-Purchase Controversy
According to officials, the matter involves the leasing of 40 villa-cottages across two locations — 20 villas in Ajabgarh, Alwar district, and 20 cottages in Bujra, Udaipur district — all acquired from the same private company. The total expenditure reportedly amounted to approximately ₹6.16 crore. After purchase, the properties were leased back to the same company, with annual lease amounts calculated at ₹4 lakh per cottage in Bujra and ₹5 lakh per villa in Ajabgarh, generating a total annual lease payout of around ₹2 crore, according to officials.
Agrawal's Role and Responsibilities
Agrawal, a senior IAS officer, had been posted as Additional Chief Secretary in the Industries, Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department of Rajasthan. He had also held pivotal positions in industrial development and investment promotion in the state, including roles connected to the Rajasthan Chief Minister's Office. The nature of his postings has drawn particular attention, with critics arguing that deals finalized during his tenure in these roles warrant closer examination.
IPS Officer Levels Fresh Allegations
IPS officer Pankaj Chaudhary has separately alleged that Agrawal holds a 50 per cent stake in a major resort project being developed by a private group at Karjat, near Mumbai. Chaudhary described the project as a large-scale development comprising around 400 rooms and involving investments worth billions of rupees, though these claims remain unverified. Chaudhary also alleged that certain companies secured major contracts during Agrawal's tenure in the MSME and Industries departments, and called for an independent investigation into how those deals were finalised.
Political Dimensions and CBI Demand
The controversy has taken a political turn, with Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal having earlier made remarks concerning Agrawal's personal life. Chaudhary cited Beniwal's statements and claimed that a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe could uncover financial dealings exceeding ₹1,000 crore. These allegations are currently unsubstantiated and have not been independently verified. This comes amid heightened scrutiny of bureaucratic conduct in Rajasthan, where the current government has signalled a zero-tolerance stance on administrative irregularities.
What Happens Next
With Agrawal now on APO, a formal departmental inquiry or further action by an investigative agency appears likely, though no official timeline has been announced. The Rajasthan government has not yet commented on whether a CBI referral or state-level probe will be initiated. How the government responds to demands for a wider investigation — including into the Karjat resort project — will be closely watched in the coming days.
Point of View
But it is notably cautious — a holding measure rather than a suspension or inquiry referral. The real question is whether the Rajasthan government will let scrutiny proceed to its logical end: a CBI or ACB probe into transactions that, if the allegations hold, would represent a textbook conflict of interest for a serving officer who oversaw industrial contracts. The involvement of a sitting IPS officer as a named complainant raises the stakes, since it is unusual and signals that the case has moved beyond political noise. The government's next move — or deliberate inaction — will reveal how serious its anti-corruption posture really is.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal placed on APO?
Shikhar Agrawal was placed on Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) by the Rajasthan government's Personnel Department on 29 October 2026, citing administrative reasons. The move follows allegations regarding the purchase of 40 villa-cottages from a single private company for approximately ₹6.16 crore, which were then leased back to the same company.
What is the 40 villa-cottage controversy involving Shikhar Agrawal?
The controversy involves the purchase of 20 villas in Ajabgarh, Alwar, and 20 cottages in Bujra, Udaipur, all from one private company at a total cost of roughly ₹6.16 crore. These properties were subsequently leased to the same company, generating a total annual lease income of around ₹2 crore, raising questions about the nature and propriety of the transactions.
What additional allegations has IPS officer Pankaj Chaudhary made?
IPS officer Pankaj Chaudhary has alleged that Agrawal holds a 50 per cent stake in a large resort project at Karjat, near Mumbai, comprising around 400 rooms and involving investments worth billions of rupees. Chaudhary has also alleged that certain companies secured major contracts during Agrawal's tenure in the MSME and Industries departments, and has demanded a CBI probe.
How much could a CBI investigation potentially uncover, according to the allegations?
IPS officer Pankaj Chaudhary has claimed, citing remarks by Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal, that a CBI investigation could reveal financial dealings exceeding ₹1,000 crore. These allegations remain unverified and no official investigation has been ordered by the Rajasthan government so far.
What positions did Shikhar Agrawal hold in the Rajasthan government?
Agrawal served as Additional Chief Secretary in the Industries, MSME Department and held key roles in industrial development and investment promotion in Rajasthan. He had also been associated with the Rajasthan Chief Minister's Office, a fact that critics say makes the alleged contract awards during his tenure particularly significant.
