Eyewitness alleges police pressure to stay silent in Greater Noida techie death case
Greater Noida: A 26-year-old delivery executive, one of the key eyewitnesses in the death of software engineer Yuvraj Mehta, has alleged that police officers pressured him to avoid speaking to the media and compelled him to give a statement favourable to the police version of events.
Moninder Singh told Hindustan Times on Tuesday that he was summoned to the police station days after Mehta’s death and was allegedly instructed to stay away from public view for nearly ten days. Singh claimed that during the visit, police officers took him to a park near the Knowledge Park police station, reprimanded him for interacting with the media and made him wait there for more than four hours.
According to Singh, officers dictated what he described as a “script” and recorded a fresh video statement from him. He alleged that he was asked to state that police personnel had entered the water-filled pit and made every possible effort to rescue Mehta. “I was scared and agreed at that time, but I later decided that as an eyewitness, I should stand by the truth,” Singh said, adding that his family and local residents were supporting him.
The allegations follows the 27-year-old Yuvraj Mehta’s death, who drowned after his car fell into a rainwater-filled excavation pit on a vacant plot in Sector 150 early Saturday morning. The pit, reportedly dug for a building basement, was estimated to be more than 20 feet deep and possibly as deep as 50 feet. Residents and officials have said the site had no barricades, warning signs or reflective markers, raising serious questions about safety and civic oversight.
Singh, who lives in Sector 150, said he was on a delivery assignment around 1.50 am when he noticed police activity at the site. He reached the spot minutes after Mehta’s car had submerged. Singh said he entered the water wearing a life jacket and searched for nearly half an hour but could not locate Mehta.
A short video recorded by Singh at the site, showing what he alleged was a delayed and inadequate rescue effort, later circulated widely on social media and drew further scrutiny of the authorities’ response.
Responding to the allegations, a senior police officer, speaking to HT on condition of anonymity, said the police had not threatened Singh and added that if such claims had been made, they would be examined and verified.
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No confusion in BJP-JD(S) alliance: Kumaraswamy
Bengaluru (PTI): Union Minister H D Kumaraswamy on Saturday dismissed speculation over confusion in the BJP-JD(S) alliance, asserting that there was clarity within them and that discussions on the chief minister post were premature.
Addressing reporters at the party's state office, JP Bhavan, after chairing a preparatory meeting for the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) elections, he said the immediate priority was to remove what he termed an "anti-people government" in the state and to strengthen the alliance to face upcoming polls.
"This is not the time to discuss who should become the chief minister. There is still time for that. If we speak about it now, it would be like stitching the cradle even before the baby is born," Kumaraswamy said, underlining that leadership questions would be taken up at an appropriate time.
The JD(S) second-in-command said there is still a lot of work to be done and it was not appropriate to speak about such matters now.
"On the issue of alliance, both I and our party are open-minded. When the time comes, we will discuss it on the party platform and take a decision. There is no confusion regarding the alliance, and there will be no confusion in the future. This is my stand," Kumaraswamy said.
"There is a bad government in the state. My objective is to remove it and bring in a pro-people government. Removing this corrupt and bad government is my agenda. The JD(S) and BJP parties will work together to accomplish this task," he added.
Reiterating his stand, Kumaraswamy said, "My objective is to remove the anti-people government in the state. I have been saying this from the beginning."
On reports of internal differences over the alliance and the CM's position, the union minister said he would not respond to every statement made by individuals.
"Some people are speaking about the alliance and the chief minister's position. I do not feel the need to respond to them. If I start answering each of them, people may think I lack maturity. Therefore, I will not speak about it. We will strengthen the alliance together, face the elections together, and bring a pro-people government," he said.
Kumaraswamy added that discussions within parties were natural and not final.
He said there were still two years left for the Assembly elections while there were four to five months left for the local body elections.
The union minister said the JD(S) is also preparing for the municipal elections in Bengaluru city just as other parties.
He clarified that there had been no discussions so far between the two parties specifically on local body or GBA elections.
Earlier, the JD(S) leader chaired a meeting with Members of the Legislative Council, former MLAs and other leaders of his party to review preparations for the GBA elections.
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