{
  "id": 17425684,
  "title": "Who is IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal? Why is Rajasthan's IAS-IPS couple facing scrutiny over 40 villa deals?",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/31/who-is-ias-officer-shikhar-agrawal-why-is-rajasthans-ias-ips-couple",
  "topic": "finance",
  "section": "Finance & Markets",
  "published": "2026-10-31T15:13:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Live Mint",
    "slug": "live-mint",
    "url": "https://www.livemint.com/news/who-is-ias-officer-shikhar-agrawal-why-is-rajasthans-ias-ips-couple-facing-scrutiny-over-40-villa-deals-11793448275616.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal and his wife, IPS officer Prashakha Mathur, are currently under investigation by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in Rajasthan. The controversy stems from allegations that the couple misused their official positions to benefit a private resort company called Goyal Fashions Private Limited, which operates resorts under the Ananta brand. The investigation focuses on 40 villas and cottages purchased by Agrawal and his family at resorts in Udaipur and Alwar, allegedly at prices below market value. The ACB is examining whether these properties were acquired in exchange for favors granted to the company. Agrawal, a 1993-batch IAS officer from the Rajasthan cadre, has held various senior positions throughout his career, including district collector and commissioner of the Jaipur Development Authority. Mathur, a 1995-batch IPS officer, was serving as Additional Director General of Police (ADGP) before her removal. Both officers were placed on Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) on October 28 and 31, respectively, citing administrative reasons. The ACB's preliminary inquiry centers on transactions involving Goyal Fashions Private Limited, with Agrawal allegedly colluding with the company's directors to receive benefits in return for allegedly below-market property purchases.",
  "summary": "Rajasthan IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal and his IPS officer wife Prashakha Mathur are under scrutiny over the alleged purchase of 40 villas at below-market prices. The ACB is probing whether Agrawal misused his official position to extend favours to the resort company selling the properties.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}