Noida Authority CEO M Lokesh was removed days after a 27-year-old techie died when his car fell into a water-filled pit amid dense fog. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath ordered an SIT probe into the incident.
The Uttar Pradesh government on Monday sacked Noida Authority CEO M Lokesh following the death of a 27-year-old software engineer in Noida, whose car fell in a water-filled pit amid dense fog. A 2005-batch IAS officer from the Uttar Pradesh cadre, Lokesh was also relieved as the Managing Director of the Noida Metro Rail Corporation.
Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath took note of the incident, ordered the formation of a three-member SIT and sought a report in five days.
Based on the Chief Minister’s instructions, a three-member SIT was formed to investigate the incident under the leadership of the Divisional Commissioner of Meerut.
In addition to the Divisional Commissioner of Meerut, the ADG, Meerut Zone; and the Chief Engineer, PWD; are also part of the SIT.
ABOUT THE CASE
The victim, Yuvraj Mehta, a software engineer working in Gurugram and resident of Noida’s Tata Eureka Park, died late on January 16 after his car plunged into a water-filled excavation pit dug for the basement of an under-construction building near Sector 150 in Noida.
Mehta was returning home from work when the vehicle lost control and fell into the 30-foot unbarricaded pit amid poor visibility due to dense fog.
Police said information about the incident was received around 12:15 am, but the body could only be recovered the next morning following a prolonged rescue operation involving the fire department, local police, the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF).
An eyewitness, delivery agent Moninder, alleged that rescue efforts were delayed and claimed the techie could have been saved with timely action. He said responders hesitated to enter the water-filled pit due to cold conditions and protruding iron rods.
Based on a complaint filed by the victim’s father, police on Sunday registered an FIR at Knowledge Park police station against MJ Wishtown Planner Limited and Lotus Green Construction Private Limited.
