Former Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta Found Dead at Noida Residence

Rakesh Mehta, a retired IAS officer who served as Delhi's Chief Secretary, was found dead at his residence in Noida on Sunday. Police stated that the 74-year-old died by hanging at his flat in the Kendriya Vihar-2 society in Sector 82.

Mehta, a 1975-batch officer, held the top bureaucratic post in the Delhi government from 2007 to 2010, serving under then-Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit. His tenure included the organisation of the 2010 Commonwealth Games. He was also credited with overseeing key transport, power, and civic infrastructure projects in the capital. Earlier in his career, he served as the commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

Police recovered a one-page note from the flat. The note reportedly did not blame anyone but mentioned that Mehta was distressed by illness. Family members stated he had been dealing with hypertension, diabetes, and other health issues, along with tremors in his right hand and leg.

Mehta had been living alone in the rented flat for about five years. His wife, also a retired IAS officer, and their son reside in Dehradun, while their daughter lives in London. His wife had spoken to him on Saturday night. When family members could not reach him on Sunday afternoon, they alerted security guards, who found him hanging from a ceiling fan.

Police were informed via the Dial-112 emergency number. A forensic team collected evidence from the scene, and the body was sent for postmortem. After the inquest was completed, the remains were handed over to the family. Mehta was cremated at the Lodhi Road crematorium in Delhi on Monday. The family has not filed any complaint regarding the incident.