Former Delhi chief secretary Rakesh Mehta found hanging at Noida residence, dies by suicide - The Times of India

Former Delhi chief secretary Rakesa Mehta was found dead on Monday morning at his flat in Noida, Uttar Pradesh, after police discovered his body hanging from a ceiling fan in his bedroom. The Uttar Pradesh police confirmed that the death was a suicide, citing a “self‑inflicted injury” in their preliminary report. Mehta, 64, was taken to a nearby hospital where he was pronounced dead. The police have sealed the premises and launched an investigation under the standard protocol for suspicious deaths, although they have not yet released a detailed forensic report.

Rakesh Mehta, a 1985 batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officer, served as Delhi’s chief secretary from 2019 to 2021, a tenure marked by the implementation of several key civic reforms and coordination of the city’s response to the COVID‑19 pandemic. Prior to his stint in Delhi, he held senior positions in the Punjab and Haryana governments, including as principal secretary to the chief minister and as director of the state’s revenue department. Colleagues described him as a “straight‑talking bureaucrat” who was deeply involved in policy planning and urban development initiatives across the capital region.

Family members and close associates said Mehta had been battling health issues for several months, a factor that the police noted in their initial statement. The Delhi government expressed condolences, with the chief minister’s office issuing a brief statement that the administration would cooperate fully with investigative agencies. No suicide note has been publicly disclosed, and officials have urged the public to respect the family’s privacy while the inquiry proceeds. The case underscores rising concerns about mental‑health pressures among senior civil servants, a topic that has drawn attention from professional bodies and health experts alike.