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Noida techie death: 2 shareholders of plot that car fell into arrested

Four teams were working to catch the accused named in the Yuvraj Mehta death case, and more arrests were likely, a Noida police official said.

3 min readGreater NoidaUpdated: Jan 22, 2026 06:00 PM IST

In a statement, Lotus Greens condemned the incident but denied responsibility, claiming the plot had been transferred to another party with the Noida Authority’s approval in 2019-20.

The Greater Noida Police on Thursday arrested two more shareholders of the water-filled Sector 150 plot where 27-year-old Noida software engineer, Yuvraj Mehta, drowned after his car plunged into it early Saturday morning. Mehta died after screaming for help for around two hours as policemen watched.

The police identified the accused as Ravi Bansal, a resident of Sector 21D in 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 hold shares in the plot,” said an official, adding that four teams were working to catch the suspects named in the case and more arrests were likely.

On Thursday, the Noida police also filed another First Information Report 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 (BNS) against the five shareholders of the plot, including MZ Wiztown promoter Abhay Kumar. The case was filed on behalf of Investigating Officer Regal Kumar.

“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,” the FIR stated.

On Monday, the police also filed a case of culpable homicide, causing death by negligence, and act endangering life against MZ Wiztown and Lotus Greens. Wiztown promoter Abhay Kumar was arrested on Tuesday and sent to six days’ judicial custody on Wednesday after the court directed police to investigate the drain lapses.

In a statement, Lotus Greens condemned the incident but denied responsibility, claiming the plot had been transferred to another party with the Noida Authority’s approval in 2019-20. The promoter of MZ Wiztown Planners said that he received the land in “an excavated condition” and that he was not granted permission to commence the project there.

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Yuvraj Mehta, a resident of Tata Eureka in Sector 150, died in the early hours of Saturday after his car plunged into a deep, waterlogged excavation pit on a vacant plot in Sector 150. He was returning home from his office in Gurugram when he reportedly lost control of his vehicle in dense fog, broke through a low boundary at a sharp 90-degree turn, and fell into the pit.

According to investigators and eyewitness accounts, he managed to climb onto the roof of his partially submerged car and called his father for help. Police, firefighters, and teams from the State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force reached the site, but rescue efforts failed to save him. For nearly 90 minutes, Mehta remained trapped, calling for help as his vehicle slowly sank. By the time he could be pulled out, he had died.

An FIR was later registered against two real estate developers, Lotus Greens Construction Pvt Ltd and MZ Wiztown Planners Pvt Ltd, for culpable homicide, causing death by negligence, and an act endangering life.

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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