Agartala, October 22, 2025: A fresh controversy has gripped Tripura after the CEO of Agartala Smart City Limited (ASCL), Dr. Shailesh Kumar Yadav, IAS, was accused of issuing a “false and defamatory” public notice regarding a lawful survey of the MBB College Lake—an exercise ordered by the Tripura Human Rights Commission (THRC).

The Forum for Protection of Environment and Water Bodies has lodged a formal complaint with Chief Secretary J.K. Sinha, seeking disciplinary action against Dr. Yadav for alleged “gross misconduct” and “obstruction of a lawful process.”

The dispute stems from a joint survey conducted on October 18 by revenue officials and Forum representatives to verify alleged encroachments around the lake. The survey was approved by the THRC on September 22 and formally constituted by the Revenue Department on October 13.

According to the complaint, the survey was carried out by a Deputy Collector, Revenue Inspector, and Surveyor in the presence of complainants Nikhil Debnath and Jayanta Bhattacharjee, as per government authorization. However, later that day, ASCL’s verified Facebook page claimed that “unknown persons” had “forcefully entered” the lake premises without tickets, failed to produce identification, and “verbally abused” staff — branding them as trespassers.

The Forum has refuted the allegations, terming the ASCL post “malicious” and intended to “intimidate lawful participants.” It attached official government orders to validate the survey’s legitimacy.

Calling the post a “direct affront” to the authority of the THRC, the Forum has urged the Chief Secretary to order an inquiry and withdraw the “false” statement.

While the controversy continues to stir public debate, ASCL has yet to issue a clarification, and the Chief Secretary’s office has not commented on the matter.