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Noida Sector 150 drowning: Two officebearers of real estate company arrested; more arrests may follow, say police

Number of those arrested is now three, five others have been named in an FIR relating to the death by drowning of Yuvraj Mehta in a large, deep pit excavated in an empty plot

3 min readJan 22, 2026 08:15 PM IST

On Monday police had filed a case under sections dealing with culpable homicide, causing death by negligence, and act endangering life against both MZ Wiztown and Lotus Greens. (File image)

The Greater Noida Police on Thursday (January 22) arrested two officebearers of the real estate company Lotus Greens Pvt Ltd in connection with the death by drowning of a 27-year-old software professional in Noida’s Sector 150 early on January 17.

On Wednesday, police had registered an FIR against five officials of Lotus Greens in the same case. None of them has been arrested, however.

Abhay Kumar, the director of another realty firm, MZ Wiztown Planners, was arrested on Tuesday. A local court sent him to judicial custody on Wednesday.

Police identified the two individuals arrested on Thursday as Ravi Bansal, a resident of Faridabad, Haryana, and Sachin Karanwal, a resident of Shalimar Garden in Ghaziabad.

“Bansal and Karanwal are office bearers at Lotus Greens Pvt Ltd, and they also have a connection with the plot [in which the tragedy happened],” a police officer said.

The deceased Yuvraj Mehta drove his car over a broken boundary wall of the plot into a deep swamp that has been created by the accumulation of water over the years. Police have accused officials of the company in possession of the plot of negligence that allegedly led to the death.

“Four [police] teams are working to nab the suspects named in the case, and more arrests may follow soon,” the officer said.

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Also on Thursday, police filed a separate First Information Report (FIR) under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, and Sections 24 and 43 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, as well as Sections 290, 270, and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 (BNS) against the five allottees of the plot, including MZ Wiztown promoter Abhay Kumar.

The land of which the plot is part was allotted to Lotus Greens in 2014 for a Sports City project for more than Rs 2,300 crore. The land under Lotus Greens was later subdivided into 24 plots; the now-water-filled plot in which Yuvraj Mehta drowned, went to Wiztown.

“I found that near the public road, a very long and wide pit has been dug, which appears to have been excavated using large heavy machines. This pit has been filled with water for several years, and its depth is also very huge,” says the FIR, registered on the basis of a complaint filed by Regal Kumar, the Investigating Officer of the case.

On Monday police had filed a case under sections dealing with culpable homicide, causing death by negligence, and act endangering life against both MZ Wiztown and Lotus Greens.

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In a statement, Lotus Greens has condemned the incident but has denied responsibility, saying the plot had been transferred with the approval of Noida Authority.

The promoter of Wiztown has said, on the other hand, that his company had received the land in “an excavated condition”, and that he was not granted permission to commence the project there.

Yuvraj, a resident of Tata Eureka housing society in Sector 150, was returning from Gurgaon, and was less than a kilometre from home when his car fell into the swamp in dense fog.

According to investigators and eyewitness accounts, Yuvraj managed to climb onto the roof of the partially submerged car and kept calling for help for around two hours before he drowned.

Neetika Jha

Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in the Noida bureau. She primarily covers crime, health, and environmental issues, as well as human-interest features across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Western Uttar Pradesh. Professional Profile Education: She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai. Core Beat: Her work focuses on the administrative and social challenges of the NCR's satellite cities. She is known for her detailed reporting on civic infrastructure (like the Noida International Airport), environmental violations, and high-profile criminal investigations. Personal Interests: Outside of reporting, she is an avid reader of fiction (citing The Thursday Murder Club and Yellowface as recent favorites) and a gardening enthusiast. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Neetika’s recent reportage has been dominated by winter-related crises in the NCR and significant criminal legalities: 1. Environment & Public Safety "Greater Noida Authority slaps fines on firms for violating GRAP IV norms" (Dec 21, 2025): Reporting on heavy penalties imposed on major developers like NBCC for flouting anti-pollution construction bans. "Fatal pile-up on Yamuna Expressway: Fog, high speed emerge as key safety risks" (Dec 17, 2025): A major report on a 15-vehicle collision caused by dense fog that killed 17 people. "At Chilla, Kalindi, DND, many fined Rs 20,000 for non-compliance to Delhi's BS-VI rule" (Dec 19, 2025): On-the-ground reporting from the borders where Noida police penalize non-compliant vehicles entering the capital. "Driving in Noida amid fog? New speed limits in effect till Feb 15" (Dec 13, 2025): Detailing the seasonal traffic restrictions aimed at preventing highway accidents. 2. Crime & Legal Developments "'Have you ever heard of a murder case being withdrawn?': Court in Akhlaq lynching case" (Dec 12, 2025): Covering a critical courtroom hearing where the court questioned the UP government's petition to withdraw charges against the accused. "After losing money in stock market, bank employee in Ghaziabad withdraws Rs 64 lakh from customers' accounts" (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative piece on internal bank fraud and the risks of modern digital embezzlement. "Woman shot dead by partner in Noida: Three days on, accused still on the run" (Dec 2, 2025): Tracking a high-profile domestic violence and murder case in Central Noida. 3. Human Interest & Features "'Had tears in my eyes': Army men walk bride down the aisle 20 years after father died in terror attack" (Dec 2, 2025): A moving story about soldiers from a Punjab Grenadiers unit fulfilling a father's duty for his daughter. "How a Zepto delivery man heard a cry — and saved two kids dumped in Noida drain" (Dec 2025): A viral human-interest story highlighting individual heroism in the city. Signature Style Neetika is recognized for her meticulous follow-up on local tragedies. Whether it is a massive pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway or the ongoing construction of the Jewar (Noida) Airport, she focuses on systemic lapses and the safety of commuters. Her crime reporting often explores the psychological motives behind "crimes of passion" and the rising trend of financial cyber-fraud in the Ghaziabad-Noida belt. ... Read More

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