Former Delhi Chief Secretary Rakesh Mehta, 75, has died by suicide at his home in Noida. Police have recovered a note in which he cited health and mental distress and said he held no one responsible for his decision.
Mehta, a 1975-batch Indian Administrative Service officer, had served as Delhi's Chief Secretary under former Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit.
Mehta was living in a rented flat at Kendriya Vihar-2 Society in Noida's Sector 82, where he had stayed for about five years. Police recovered a one-page note written in English from the scene.
Originally from Dehradun, Mehta was married to Sumanti Mehta, a retired IAS officer of the Delhi cadre. At the time of the incident, she was visiting their son in Dehradun, where he is pursuing a PhD. The couple also have a daughter who lives in London after her marriage.
Read | Rakesh Mehta: A Life Spent Building Delhi, A Death No One Saw Coming
On Sunday afternoon, when his wife was unable to reach him despite repeated calls from Dehradun, she asked the society's security guard to check on the flat. When there was no response, the police were informed. Officers arrived at the scene and found Mehta dead. His family subsequently reached Noida.
His last rites were performed in Delhi on Monday.
According to the note, Mehta had been suffering from several health problems, including hypertension, diabetes and tremors in his hands and legs. He had been under considerable stress because of these ailments.
Mehta served the Delhi government in several capacities, including as Commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi.
He became Delhi's Chief Secretary in 2007 and served in the post for more than three years. He was credited with overseeing the execution of several key transport, power and civic infrastructure projects in the national capital.
The Commonwealth Games were held in Delhi in 2010 during his tenure.
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