The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is conducting a thorough investigation of suspended IAS Pankaj Agarwal, who was arrested for alleged involvement in a banking fraud.
The agency had arrested Agarwal, a 2000 batch officer, for alleged misappropriation of public funds resulting into loss of Rs 60.54 crore to the exchequer while serving as principal secretary of the department of school education and the department of agriculture.
The CBI is now digging into his previous assignments also. Sources said that the CBI is probing about his wealth and investment in land.
“Agarwal is likely to have invested money in land in Haryana and Rajasthan where one of his relatives is serving as Collector in a district,” sources said without naming the officer.
Agarwal, a native of Dhanbad (Jharkhand), has held several important posts, including Deputy Commissioner of Kurukshetra from 2007 to 2011 and Deputy Commissioner of Sonipat from 2011 to 2013 during the Bhupinder Singh Hooda-led Congress government. Under the BJP government, he also served as Labour Commissioner, Transport Commissioner and Director General, Food and Civil Supplies.
Courted controversy in Rajya Sabha elections
Ahead of 2024 Haryana Assembly elections, Agarwal was appointed Chief Electoral Officer of the state. He later handled major departments such as School Education, Agriculture, Mines and Irrigation before being shifted to the Architecture Department in April this year.
Agarwal courted controversy after the March 2025 Rajya Sabha elections in Haryana. Congress accused him of improperly rejecting votes cast by its MLAs while allowing allegedly invalid votes in favour of the BJP-backed Independent candidate Satish Nandal.
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