NEW DELHI: Former Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta has reportedly died by suicide, with Indian authorities investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. The 75-year-old retired IAS officer was found dead at his apartment in Noida on September 6.
According to Indian officials, Mehta, a 1975-batch Indian Administrative Service officer, was found at his residence in Sector 82 of Noida. Police were informed about the incident after concerns were raised over his whereabouts and inability to contact him.
Investigators reportedly recovered a note from the apartment that is being treated as a suspected suicide note. According to police, the note referred to Mehta’s mental state and health-related difficulties as factors behind his decision to take the extreme step.
A forensic team also visited the apartment and examined the scene. Officials collected relevant evidence as part of the investigation, while police are examining the circumstances surrounding the former senior bureaucrat’s death.
At the time of the incident, Mehta’s wife, Sumanthi Mehta, was in Dehradun with their son and was away from her husband. She reportedly became concerned after Mehta repeatedly failed to respond to her phone calls.
Police are continuing to investigate all aspects of the case, including the circumstances in which Mehta was found and the contents and authenticity of the suspected note. Authorities are also examining other available evidence to establish the sequence of events.
