Noida Techie Death: The authorities continued their actions in the tragic death of software engineer Yuvraj Mehta due to waterlogging in Sector-150, Noida. Two major developments took place on Thursday. First, the NGT (National Green Tribunal) took suo motu cognisance of the incident that triggered widespread outrage, highlighting negligence by the authorities. Holding administrative negligence responsible, it issued notices to authorities, cited violation of the Environment Protection Act, and set April 10 for the next hearing. In the second development, police filed the second FIR in the matter, expanding the rage of the investigation.
What NGT Said In Its Notice?
The NGT raised serious questions over prolonged administrative inaction and environmental non-compliance, initiating a suo motu proceedings, seeking responses from multiple state and local authorities.
The Principal Bench of the Tribunal, headed by Chairperson Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Expert Member A Senthil Vel, registered an Original Application based on a newspaper report titled "Noida CEO Removed CM orders SIT probe into techie's Drowning" published on January 20, 2026.
The Tribunal said the land was originally allotted for a private mall project, but over nearly a decade, had transformed into a pond due to unchecked accumulation of rainwater and wastewater discharged from surrounding housing societies.
Noida Authority's Rs 13.05 lakh Went In Vain
The Bench observed that a stormwater management plan had been prepared by the Uttar Pradesh Irrigation Department in 2015 following surveys and inspections. The plan proposed the construction of a head regulator to divert excess water into the Hindon River. Funds amounting to Rs 13.05 lakh were released by the Noida Authority in 2016 for survey and design work. However, despite these steps, the proposed infrastructure remained unexecuted, with the Tribunal noting that critical decisions such as the use of appropriate hydraulic or pneumatic gates were discussed but never implemented.
FIR Against Five Builders
Another FIR was filed against five builders of Lotus Greens Construction Pvt Ltd and MZ Wiztown Planners Pvt Ltd. According to the FIR, the builders violated environmental and pollution laws in connection with a large waterlogged pit in Sector 150.
On Wednesday, a fresh case was registered at the Knowledge Park police station against Abhay Kumar, Sanjay Kumar, Manish Kumar, Anchal Bohra and Nirmal Kumar under Section 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, Sections 24 and 43 of the Water (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1974, and Sections 290, 270 and 125 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), according to the FIR.
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In the complaint, local sub-inspector Regal Kumar said that during patrolling on January 20, a "very large and wide pit" was found at plot number SC-02/A3 in Sector 150, close to a public road. The pit appeared to have been excavated using heavy machinery and had remained filled with water for several years, it said.
Here Are The Other Key Developments In The Case
- Meanwhile, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by ADG (Meerut Zone) Bhanu Bhaskar continued its probe into the matter on the third day.
- The SIT has sought details from various departments of the Noida Authority, including civil, projects, and traffic cell, about works done in Sector 150, particularly around the spot where the software engineer died.
- Police found that the plot was purchased from the Noida Authority in 2014 by Lotus Greens Construction Pvt Ltd and was later acquired in 2020 by Wiztown.
- The police on Tuesday arrested Abhay Kumar, the director of MZ Wiztown Planners, who was remanded in judicial custody on Wednesday, officials said.
- A truck driver had narrowly escaped death at the same site, an ordeal that he said still haunts him as he demanded criminal action, including invoking of murder charges, against developers and local authorities.
(With agencies inputs)