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Noida engineer death: 5 more booked; roles of Noida Authority, administration, police will be probed, says SIT

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

3 min readNoidaJan 22, 2026 08:25 AM IST

software professional Yuvraj Mehta; 5 more booked; roles of Noida Authority, administration, police will be probed, says SIT

Yuvraj Mehta was returning home on the night of January 16 when his car fell into a deep, water-filled pit near a construction site in Noida's Sector 150.

Late on Wednesday evening, police registered a fresh FIR against five officials of real estate company Lotus Greens in connection with the death of software professional Yuvraj Mehta who drowned in a swamp at a construction site in Noida’s Sector 150.

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

The five individuals, including a woman, have been booked for allegedly creating and leaving unattended a deep excavation pit, which was filled with stagnant and polluted water, near a public road.

The FIR was lodged on a complaint filed by Investigating Officer Reegal Kumar, a sub-inspector at the Knowledge Park police station. According to the complaint, the plot was excavated without adequate safety measures and was abandoned subsequently.

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The land, the FIR said, was originally allotted by Lotus Greens Construction Private Limited in 2014 and was later transferred to MZ Wiztown Planners Private Limited, another real estate company.

On Wednesday, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) set up by the Uttar Pradesh government to probe the accident spent several hours at the Noida Authority headquarters in Sector 6, questioning both senior officials and junior staff, officials said.

The SIT, led by Additional Director General of Police (Meerut Zone) Bhanu Bhaskar, arrived in Noida on Tuesday.

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Bhaskar told The Indian Express that the SIT was investigating three main angles: “The cause of the death, who were responsible, and the ways to ensure that such an incident is not repeated.” The SIT would submit its report within five days, Bhaskar said.

Asked if the role of police officers on the night of the tragedy (January 16) would also be probed, Bhaskar said: “Everyone responsible — from officials of Noida Authority, administration or police to those from any other department — will be investigated.”

Police officers said Abhay Kumar would be questioned in judicial custody if needed. “Abhay Kumar was primarily arrested because the area surrounding the accident site was not fenced, which was the responsibility of the builder,” an officer said.

Yuvraj Mehta, who worked in Gurgaon, was returning home on the night of January 16 when his car fell into a deep, water-filled pit near a construction site in Noida’s Sector 150. He died after allegedly pleading for help for nearly two hours, even as the police, the NDRF and the SDRF tried to save him amid the dense fog.

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From Wednesday morning, teams from the forensic laboratory and other departments were seen at the Sector 150 site, measuring the road and the adjoining drain.

Amid mounting public outrage against developers and the local authority, the Uttar Pradesh government had on Monday removed the Noida Authority’s Chief Executive Officer and set up a SIT to probe into the incident.

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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