Noida Techie Yuvraj Mehta Death Case: Multiple Stakeholders Identified in Disputed Land, Police Probe Intensifies

Noida: Even a week after the tragic death of young software engineer Yuvraj Mehta in Noida’s Sector-150 Sports City area, several critical questions remain unanswered. While the Special Investigation Team (SIT) is probing alleged lapses in the crucial first two hours after the incident, fresh details have emerged regarding a long-standing land dispute linked to the Sports City project, further complicating the investigation.

Police inquiries have revealed that the disputed land where the incident occurred was originally purchased in 2014 from the Greater Noida Authority by Lotus Green Construction Private Limited. In 2020, the land was sold to MZ Wiztown, but Lotus Green Construction continues to hold a significant stake in the property. Investigators say the presence of multiple stakeholders has made it difficult to fix accountability.

Shareholding Details Come to Light

According to company shareholding records accessed by the police, Abhay Kumar holds a 32.2 percent stake, Sanjay Kumar owns 27.3 percent, Manish Kumar holds 7 percent, Achal Bohra has 3.05 percent, while Nirmal and other entities linked to Lotus Green Construction together account for around 30 percent. The fragmented ownership structure has emerged as a major hurdle for investigating agencies attempting to determine responsibility for maintenance and safety at the site.

Allegations of Large-Scale Irregularities

The Sports City project spans sectors 78, 79, 150, and 152 of Noida, where four large plots were allotted between 2009-10 and 2014-15. As per norms, developers were required to allocate 68 percent of the area for sports facilities, 28 percent for residential development, and 2 percent for commercial use.

However, it is alleged that instead of developing sports infrastructure, builders subdivided the four large plots into 84 smaller parcels and sold them to different developers for profit. The most serious allegation is that the Noida Authority permitted the subdivision and registration of plots in violation of established rules.

Administrative Action Stalled

In January 2021, during a board meeting chaired by then Noida CEO Ritu Maheshwari, the issue was formally taken up. The board ordered a halt on occupancy certificates, map approvals, and all related activities on Sports City plots. A committee headed by then ACEO Neha Sharma was constituted to examine the matter.

The committee submitted its report in August 2021, followed by a revised report in September after the state government sought clarifications. However, sources indicate that no decisive action has been taken at the government level so far, and the matter has remained buried in official files.

Questions Raised on Systemic Failure

The fatal incident on the night of January 16, which claimed the life of Yuvraj Mehta, has shaken the city and sparked widespread public outrage. A key focus of the SIT investigation is why effective rescue efforts failed for nearly two hours after authorities were informed, despite the availability of resources and the presence of multiple officials at the spot.

Social media anger soon spilled onto the streets, with citizens staging protests and demanding accountability. Allegations suggest that despite having adequate manpower and equipment, timely arrangements were not made. The court has also taken a serious view of the matter, reprimanding the police and directing them to clearly establish responsibility for the collapsed drain, lack of barricading, and delay in rescue operations.

Following the completion of the investigation, strict action is expected against those found responsible.