Noida: Uttar Pradesh Police have arrested Abhay Singh, CEO of MZ Wiztown Planners, in connection with the death of Noida-based software engineer Yuvraj Mehta, whose drowning at a construction site has sparked nationwide outrage over administrative negligence and delayed emergency response.
Singh has been booked under Sections 105, 106(1), and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for alleged culpable homicide due to negligence. The arrest comes as a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has begun probing the circumstances that led to the tragic incident.
Tragic Incident and Delayed Rescue
The incident occurred at a mall construction site in Sector 150, Noida, where Mehta’s SUV rammed into a drainage wall and plunged into a water-filled deep pit created due to ongoing construction work. With no warning signs or barricades at the site, the vehicle submerged rapidly.
Yuvraj Mehta, who reportedly did not know how to swim, managed to climb onto the roof of his car and remained there for nearly 90 minutes, calling for help. He informed his father about the incident, and both the police and family reached the site within minutes. However, rescue efforts failed to save him.
According to reports, a State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) team arrived while Mehta was still alive and shouting for help, but they could not initiate the rescue due to a lack of essential equipment. By the time the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) arrived and began operations, Mehta had already drowned.
SIT to Fix Accountability
Following public outrage, the Uttar Pradesh government constituted an SIT to investigate the matter and determine responsibility.
“SIT has started its work, and we will present the report in the next five days. We are speaking to everyone concerned and will find out the reasons that led to this incident,” said Bhanu Bhaskar, ADG, Meerut Zone and head of the SIT.
Rahul Gandhi Slams Systemic Failure
Reacting to the incident, Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi sharply criticised the state of urban infrastructure and governance in the country, calling the tragedy a result of systemic indifference.
“Roads kill. Bridges kill. Fires kill. Water kills. Pollution kills. Corruption kills. Indifference kills. India’s urban collapse isn’t about lack of money, technology, or solutions. It’s about a lack of accountability. TINA: There Is No Accountability,” Rahul Gandhi said in a post on X.
The death of Yuvraj Mehta has reignited concerns over unregulated construction, poor urban planning, and failure of emergency response systems, with growing demands for strict action against those responsible.