A new controversy has emerged surrounding the lease of the Rose Valley building in Agartala, a property long declared an illegal construction after the Agartala Municipal Corporation (AMC) refused to approve its building plan. Years ago, a notice board outside the premises had identified the structure as unauthorized.
The building, seized by the state government as part of asset recovery following the Rose Valley chit fund scam, was initially designated for housing government offices, including the Urban Development Department (UDD), Jal Board, Agartala Smart City Ltd., and the Tripura Urban Development Authority (TUDA). Court directives had clearly stated that assets seized from the scam should be sold to compensate affected investors, with the West Tripura District and Sessions Judge Court designated as custodian.
Despite these orders, reports indicate that in 2021, during the tenure of former Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb, the building’s top floor was leased to Oval Projects Engineering Pvt. Ltd., a private engineering procurement and construction company mainly engaged in ONGC projects. The lease was reportedly executed at a minimal monthly premium, raising concerns about transparency and compliance.
AMC later issued a trade licence to Oval Projects for operating a restaurant on the premises. However, it has since been revealed that the company managed to secure a liquor licence through the West District Superintendent of Excise. The premises were subsequently converted into the Happiest Hour Bar, a move that has attracted scrutiny over possible irregularities in the licensing process.
Critics argue that the decision contradicted both municipal rules and judicial directives. Questions have been raised about how a building marked as illegal and intended for liquidation to repay investors was instead sublet to a private entity. Concerns include the leasing of government property to a contractor, the low rental rate, and the conversion of a restaurant licence into a liquor licence.
Sources suggest that while Chief Minister Dr. Manik Saha was unaware of the developments, Finance Minister Pranajit Singha Roy, as the minister in charge of the Revenue Department, had approved the liquor licence file. The matter has led to speculation that the decision may not have been taken at the highest level of government but within administrative departments managing the property.
At present, no government body has publicly accepted responsibility for initiating the lease. Observers note that the controversy highlights broader issues of property management, accountability, and adherence to judicial directives in the handling of seized assets.
With questions still unanswered, the controversy over the Rose Valley building lease continues to cast a shadow over the state’s administrative transparency and asset management practices.