Noida techie death: ‘Absconding’ builder arrested days after techie’s car plunged into construction pit

According to Noida police, builder Abhay Kumar charged with culpable homicide, causing death by negligence and endangering a life. Rahul Gandhi slams UP govt for lack of accountability.

File photos (L-R) — Builder Abhay Kumar and Yuvraj Mehta, the 27-year-old techie who died after his car plunged into a construction pit in Noida's Sector 150 | ANI

New Delhi: Noida’s Knowledge Park police arrested the director of Best Town Planners Private Limited Monday in connection with the death of 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta, whose car fell into a water-filled pit at an under-construction site in Sector 150 earlier this week.

According to the police, Delhi resident Abhay Kumar had been absconding since the incident; he was arrested following intelligence inputs and tip-offs.

Mehta died on the night of 16–17 January after his car plunged into the pit at the construction site. Police said the pit had filled with water owing to alleged negligence at the worksite, leading to the fatality.

Following the incident, an FIR was registered at Knowledge Park police station under Sections 105 (culpable homicide), 106(1) (causing death by negligence) and 125 (act endangering life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), the police said.

The incident prompted widespread outrage after reports that the site lacked proper barricading, warning signs and lighting. Mehta’s family alleged gross negligence and said a timely rescue could have saved his life. Local residents staged protests, accusing authorities and developers of ignoring repeated warnings about the hazardous stretch.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had Monday ordered investigation by a Special Investigation Team into Mehta’s death and directed the team to submit a report within five days. The CMO also confirmed the removal of the Noida CEO, IAS Lokesh M, placing him on what it has called a “waitlist”.

On Tuesday, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi raised concerns over the lack of accountability. In a post on X, he wrote: “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 lack of accountability.” He added the abbreviation: “TINA: There Is No Accountability.”

(Edited by Viny Mishra)