Former Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta Dies in Noida; Police Recover Note Citing Illness

Rakesh Mehta, who served as Delhi's Chief Secretary from 2007 to 2010, was found dead at his rented residence in Noida's Sector 82 on Sunday afternoon. Police stated that a note recovered from the spot mentioned prolonged illness as the reason for his death.

According to a Phase 2 police official, the incident came to light after Mr. Mehta's wife, a retired IAS officer living in Dehradun, was unable to contact him and alerted the authorities. A police team reached his residence in the Kendriya Vihar 2 Society and discovered his body.

The 1975-batch IAS officer had been living alone in the rented accommodation. His wife and children reside in Dehradun, their hometown. Police said Mr. Mehta had been suffering from hypertension and diabetes and preferred to live independently. 'He preferred to live alone. A note was recovered from the spot, in which he mentioned this prolonged illness as the reason for taking the extreme step,' a police official said.

The body was sent for postmortem examination and later handed over to the family. Mr. Mehta was cremated at the Lodhi Road crematorium on Monday.

Mr. Mehta took charge as Delhi's Chief Secretary in 2007 during the Sheila Dikshit government and held the position until his retirement in November 2010. Over his career, he occupied several key posts in the Delhi government and the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, contributing to the administration of the national capital.

Police said further investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death is underway. No suspicious angle has been reported so far.

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