Rajasthan Government Removes IAS Officer from Post, Cites Administrative Reasons Amid Around ₹6-Crore Villa Deal Row

The Rajasthan government has placed senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal on Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) amid scrutiny of a deal involving the purchase of 40 villas and cottages worth around ₹6.16 crore from a single private company over two-and-a-half years.

The state government's Personnel Department issued the order late Wednesday night, citing administrative reasons.

The matter concerns 20 villas in Ajabgarh, Alwar district, and 20 cottages in Bujra, Udaipur district. The properties were reportedly purchased from a private company and subsequently leased back to the same firm.

₹2 Crore in Annual Lease Payments

According to officials, the annual lease amount was fixed at ₹5 lakh per villa in Ajabgarh and ₹4 lakh per cottage in Bujra.

The arrangement reportedly generated annual lease payments of around ₹2 crore. The transactions have drawn scrutiny over the circumstances surrounding the purchases and subsequent leasing of the properties.

Agrawal previously held several senior positions in the Rajasthan administration, including Additional Chief Secretary in the Industries and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) Department. He also served in roles linked to industrial development and investment promotion.

IPS Officer Pankaj Chaudhary Raises Further Allegations

The controversy has widened after IPS officer Pankaj Chaudhary levelled additional allegations against Agrawal.

Chaudhary claimed that a private group was developing a major resort project in Karjat, near Mumbai, in which Agrawal allegedly held a 50% stake. He described the project as a development involving around 400 rooms and investments worth billions of rupees.

Chaudhary also alleged that certain companies secured major deals during Agrawal's tenure in positions associated with the Rajasthan Chief Minister's Office and the Industries Department.

He called for an investigation into the transactions and the circumstances in which the deals were finalised.

Demand for Investigation

Referring to earlier remarks by Nagaur MP Hanuman Beniwal concerning Agrawal's personal life, Chaudhary argued that the allegations warranted closer scrutiny.

He claimed that a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe could uncover financial dealings exceeding ₹1,000 crore.

The allegations against Agrawal have not been established as wrongdoing. Further investigation would be required to determine the facts surrounding the property transactions and the other claims raised against him.