Former Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta Dies by Suicide in Noida, Police Recover Note
Former Delhi chief secretary Rakesh Mehta, who served during the tenure of former Delhi chief minister Sheila Dikshit, allegedly died by suicide at his residence in Noida, officials said on Tuesday.
Mehta, a 1975-batch IAS officer, was found hanging from a ceiling fan at his rented residence in Sector 82 on September 6, according to Noida Police.
Police recovered a purported one-page suicide note from the residence. The note reportedly did not hold anyone responsible and referred to Mehta's mental and health-related difficulties as reasons for the extreme step.
Mehta was 74 and had served as Delhi's chief secretary for more than three years during Dikshit's tenure. He took charge of the post in 2007 and retired in November 2010.
The 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi were held during his tenure as chief secretary. He was also associated with the implementation of several major transport, power and civic infrastructure projects in the national capital.
Before becoming chief secretary, Mehta held several senior positions in the Delhi government and also served as commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), according to former colleagues.
Noida Police said Mehta had been living alone in a rented flat in the Kendriya Vihar-2 residential society in Sector 82 for around five years.
His wife, who is also a retired IAS officer of the Delhi cadre, and their son live in Dehradun, while their married daughter is based in London. According to officials, his wife and son visited him in Noida periodically.
Police said Mehta's wife spoke to him by telephone on Saturday night. When family members were unable to contact him despite repeated calls on Sunday afternoon, they alerted security personnel at the residential complex.
Two security guards subsequently went to the flat and found Mehta hanging from the ceiling fan. Noida Police and a relative who lives nearby reached the residence shortly afterwards.
A forensic team was called to the scene to collect evidence, while Mehta's body was sent for postmortem examination.
The family has not lodged any complaint, and police are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death.
According to officials, the purported suicide note did not accuse or blame any individual and mentioned that Mehta was distressed by illness. Family members said he had been dealing with hypertension, diabetes and other health-related problems. He was also reportedly experiencing trembling in his right hand and leg.
Mehta's death has brought attention to the career of a senior civil servant who played a significant role in Delhi's administration during a period of major infrastructure development.
He studied at St Stephen's College and Jawaharlal Nehru University before pursuing economics and related studies at the London School of Economics.
Mehta was cremated at the Lodhi Road crematorium on Monday.
Police have not indicated any foul play so far, and further details are expected to emerge as the investigation and forensic examination continue.
with inputs from PTI
