Tripura IAS officer Dr. Shailesh Kumar Yadav faces complaint for a misleading Facebook post on MBB College Lake survey. Activists demand action, citing abuse of power and obstruction of lawful government inquiry.
A formal complaint has been filed against Dr. Shailesh Kumar Yadav, IAS, Chief Executive Officer of Agartala Smart City Limited (ASCL), accusing him of publishing a “false, defamatory and misleading” post on ASCL’s official Facebook page regarding a lawful government survey at MBB College Lake.
The complaint, submitted to the Chief Secretary of Tripura by environmental activists Nikhil Debnath and Jayanta Bhattacharjee of Paribesh O Jalasay Sangrakshan Mancha, alleges that Dr. Yadav misrepresented an authorized survey team as “unknown persons” and “trespassers,” thereby misleading the public and undermining government authority.
According to the complaint, the survey was officially ordered jointly by the Tripura Human Rights Commission (THRC) and the Revenue Department through Memorandum No. F.4(10)-RCC/2025 dated October 13, 2025. This directive, issued following THRC’s instruction No. F.THRC/3392 dated September 22, 2025, authorized a team from the Agartala East Revenue Circle, including the Deputy Collector and Magistrate, Revenue Inspector, Surveyor, and Tehsildar, to examine alleged encroachments around MBB College Lake.
The complainants highlighted that the survey was conducted on October 18, 2025, in the presence of media representatives, activists, and their legal counsel. “The process was completely transparent and in accordance with official orders,” said the activists.
However, the official Facebook page of ASCL later posted that “unknown persons claiming to be from Tripura Human Rights Commission” had “forcefully entered MBB Lake without taking any entry tickets” and were “spreading misinformation with vested interests.” The post further warned that an FIR would be lodged against those involved in the survey.
The complainants described the post as “false, malicious, and intended to obstruct a lawful inquiry” initiated by the THRC and the Government of Tripura. They added that the post represented gross misconduct and abuse of power by a senior IAS officer, undermining the credibility of both the Human Rights Commission and the state government.
Copies of the official memorandum authorizing the survey and screenshots of the Facebook post were attached to the complaint. The activists urged the Chief Secretary of Tripura to take immediate and appropriate action against Dr. Yadav for his alleged misrepresentation and misconduct.
Environmental activists and civil society members in Tripura have expressed deep concern over the incident, stating that such actions could discourage transparency and accountability in government operations. “Officials must respect lawful procedures and the authority of survey teams,” said Nikhil Debnath.
The controversy has sparked widespread discussions on social media and local news platforms, raising questions about IAS accountability, misuse of official social media channels, and transparency in governance. Legal experts also noted that if the allegations are substantiated, it could constitute a serious violation of service conduct rules for government officers.
The state administration has yet to issue an official response to the complaint. However, stakeholders expect swift action to uphold the integrity of governmental processes and the authority of the Tripura Human Rights Commission.
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This incident underscores the increasing scrutiny of public officials’ statements on social media and highlights the importance of responsible communication by government authorities, particularly when dealing with environmental and civic governance issues.
As the case develops, citizens and civil society groups are watching closely for the state’s response to allegations of misrepresentation and potential obstruction of lawful inquiries.
