In this study activated carbon from corncob, an agro waste was used as an adsorbent for removal of malachite green and methyl violet from aqueous solutions. Parameters, such as adsorbent dosage, concentration of the dye, contact time and temperature were optimized with regard to the dye removal using the selected adsorbent. Carbon prepared from corncob was found effective in removing malachite green and methyl violet from aqueous conditions. Conformation of data to the Lagergren's rate equation indicated first order kinetics. The fitness of Langmuir model in the present study shows the formation of monolayer coverage of the adsorbate at the outer surface of the adsorbent. The dye removal efficiency of the agro waste based activated carbon was found to be good and could be recommended as low cost adsorbent.