Noida: Former Delhi Chief Secretary and 1975-batch IAS officer Rakesh Mehta allegedly died by suicide at his residence in Noida on September 6, police said. He was 75.
According to the police, a purported suicide note was recovered from the residence, in which Mehta reportedly cited “prolonged illness” as the reason for taking the extreme step. Police said he had been suffering from hypertension and diabetes.
Mehta was residing alone at his home in Pocket 6 of Kendriya Vihar II, under the jurisdiction of the Noida Phase 2 police station. Police received information about the incident at around 1:28 pm on September 6 after members of his family, including his wife and son, who lives in Dehradun, were unable to contact him.
After repeated calls went unanswered, the family alerted the security guard at the residence. The guard subsequently found Mehta’s body, police said. A relative living nearby also reached the spot.
The body was sent for a post-mortem examination and was later handed over to the family for the last rites. Mehta was cremated at the Lodhi Road crematorium in Delhi on Monday.
An officer of the AGMUT cadre, Mehta served in several important administrative positions during his career. He served under the Sheila Dikshit-led Delhi government and became Delhi’s Chief Secretary in 2007. He continued in the post until his retirement in November 2010.
Mehta also served as the Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi for three years. During his administrative career, he was associated with the execution of several major transport, power and civic infrastructure projects in the national capital.
The 2010 Commonwealth Games in Delhi were also held during his tenure as Chief Secretary.
Police said further investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death is underway.
