IAS – IPS Couple Have 40 Villas, Now Face Corruption Probe

Bureaucrats in India often face allegations over accumulating illegal wealth through abuse of their position. In another news that has grabbed headlines, an IAS – IPS couple from Rajasthan cadre have reportedly amassed huge wealth including 40 luxury Villas purchased within a little span.

According to details, senior IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal and his wife senior IPS officer Prashakha Mathur, who are currently posted in Rajasthan, came under the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) probe after it was exposed that the duo has 40 posh villas under their name.

The bureaucrat family allegedly purchased 40 luxury cottages and villas across two high-end Ananta resorts in Udaipur and Alwar for around 6 crore rupees within two and a half years. Officials allege that the properties were acquired from a private firm at rates significantly lower than market value.

The properties were registered under the names of Agrawal, his wife and their two sons. The ACB suspects that IAS officer Shikhar Agrawal misused his previous official positions while working as Udaipur District Collector, Environment Board Chairman, and ACS Industries to give illegal permissions to the resort owners.

In return for official favour, the officer allegedly received heavily discounted properties. What is more shocking is that the family leased back all 40 properties to the same resort management company right after buying them and started earning 1.80 Crores rent every year.

After the shocking wealth details came out in the media, both bureaucrats have been removed from active posting and the government granted formal permission to ACB to launch a detailed investigation into the allegations for taking further necessary action.