Jaipur, October 31, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Former Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot on Saturday accused the state government of exerting pressure on the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and questioned the impartiality of its investigation into IAS officer Shikhar Agarwal’s reported purchase of 40 villas and cottages from a single company.
Gehlot also alleged that a woman officer of Additional Director General (ADG) rank wielded greater authority than the ACB Director General (DG), effectively functioning as a “Super DG” and influencing the bureau’s decisions.
He made the remarks while speaking to the media at the state Congress headquarters in Jaipur.
Questioning the progress of the probe, Gehlot said that placing Agarwal under Awaiting Posting Orders (APO) and initiating an ACB enquiry did not amount to meaningful action. He pointed out that the matter remained at the Preliminary Enquiry (PE) stage and asked when it would be converted into a First Information Report (FIR).
“You have merely placed Shikhar Agarwal under APO and initiated an ACB enquiry. As long as the matter remains confined to a Preliminary Enquiry, nothing substantial will happen. They are still investigating whether a case can be made out or not,” Gehlot said.
He noted that despite the issue attracting widespread national media attention, the investigation had not moved beyond the preliminary stage.
“When will FIR be registered? And once an FIR is registered, how will you proceed? How much pressure will be brought to bear on the ACB DG? The DG is already buckling under immense pressure,” he said.
Alleging interference in the bureau’s functioning, Gehlot claimed that the woman ADG issued directions to other officers and reprimanded them, exercising authority beyond her official position.
“The ACB DG is a decent man. In the Mahesh Joshi case, when the investigating officer reportedly said there was no valid ground for an arrest, the DG was under so much pressure from above that he said, ‘I don’t know anything; there is pressure from above’,” Gehlot alleged.
Referring to the woman ADG, he said: “She (woman ADG) is the one who issues orders, directs officers and scolds them. Cases are then made against people. I believe this female ADG has been appointed specifically to target certain individuals.”
Gehlot further alleged that the officer had been positioned to act against individuals whenever instructions came from higher authorities, expressing concern that innocent people could be caught in the process.
He described the ACB DG and his predecessor as personally decent officers and said he maintained cordial relations with them. However, he urged them to discharge their duties independently and resist political pressure.
“I would be happy if anyone found guilty of corruption receives the maximum possible punishment. But officers must perform their duties without pressure. You have taken an oath as IPS officers, and you must uphold it,” he said.
The Congress leader also referred to an alleged altercation involving Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma, including claims of a slapping incident. He said the incident had taken place and called on those present to disclose what had actually happened.
Gehlot alleged that the ACB was under the Chief Minister’s control and claimed that a decision concerning the company involved in the property transaction had been taken at a meeting chaired by Sharma. He further claimed that Agarwal, whom he described as among the senior officers close to the Chief Minister, was present during the developments.
“Whether it was a scuffle, a slapping incident or something else, the Chief Minister himself should explain what happened. Alternatively, those who were present at the time, including this officer, Shikhar Agarwal, or Srivastava, who is now our IGP, should reveal the truth. How would I know what actually happened?” Gehlot said.
He also claimed that people within the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government had begun acknowledging that an incident had taken place.
Questioning the reported purchase of 40 villas and cottages for around Rs 6 crore, Gehlot alleged that the properties had been acquired at unusually low prices. Citing information he said he had recently received from a member of the seller’s family, he claimed that individual properties could be sold for around Rs 15 lakh each.
Taking a sarcastic dig at the reported arrangement, he said villas allegedly worth nearly Rs 1 crore should also be made available to others at the same price.
Gehlot also appealed to people to participate in the INDIA bloc’s “Chalo Delhi” rally scheduled for November 1.
FOLLOW NOW
