Noida: Former Delhi chief secretary and municipal commissioner Rakesh Mehta (74) was found dead at his rented flat in Sector 82 on Sunday afternoon. Police recovered a one-page note in which Mehta referred to his illness and did not hold anyone responsible for his death.Mehta had been living alone at Central Vihar-2 for around five years. His wife, also a retired Delhi-cadre IAS officer, and their son live in Dehradun, while their married daughter is in London. His family would visit him in Noida off and on.According to police, Mehta’s wife last spoke to him on Saturday night. The next afternoon, when repeated calls went unanswered, family members alerted security staff at the society. Two guards went to his flat and found Mehta dead in one of the rooms. A police team and a relative living nearby arrived soon after.A field unit examined the flat and collected evidence before the body was sent for an autopsy. Till late on Tuesday night, the family had not lodged any complaint, but police said they had initiated an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the death.Asked about health problems mentioned in the note, family members said Mehta had hypertension, diabetes and other ailments, including trembling in the right hand and leg.A 1975-batch AGMUT-cadre IAS officer, Mehta took charge as Delhi chief secretary in Dec 2007, when Sheila Dikshit was chief minister, and remained in the post till 2010. His tenure included preparations for the 2010 Commonwealth Games, one of the biggest administrative challenges facing the city.Mehta had earlier served as MCD commissioner, CMD of Delhi Transport Corporation and secretary (power), and was handling several key portfolios when he was appointed chief secretary. He was known for his focus on urban governance and public transport. As DTC chief, he oversaw the transition from the accident-prone Blue Line buses and the introduction of low-floor buses that became a defining feature of Delhi’s roads.Known as a media-savvy bureaucrat who pushed plans and projects, Mehta unveiled a 10-point agenda on taking charge as chief secretary. He also stressed on greater transparency in civic administration, including new building bylaws, and promoted the use of technology to take govt services to people’s doorsteps.He studied at St Stephen’s College, JNU and the London School of Economics. His final rites were held in Delhi on Monday.
