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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Govt directive to offer 60 pc flight seats without additional charges put on hold
Mumbai (PTI): The government on Thursday "put in abeyance" its earlier direction to airlines to offer at least 60 per cent of seats in a flight without levying any additional charge from April 20, according to sources.
On March 18, the civil aviation ministry announced that directions have been issued to the DGCA to direct airlines to allocate a minimum of 60 per cent of seats for selection on any flight free of any additional charges to ensure fair access for passengers.
"The matter has been reviewed in light of representations received from the Federation of Indian Airlines and Akasa Air, highlighting operational and commercial implications of the above provision, including its potential impact on fare structures and consistency with the prevailing deregulated tariff regime.
"In view of the above, and pending a comprehensive examination of the issue, it has been decided that the provision relating to offering at least 60 per cent of seats free of charge shall be kept in abeyance till further orders," Civil Aviation Ministry said in a communication to the DGCA.
At present, 20 per cent of the seats can be booked free of charge, while the rest are paid.
Generally, airlines charge Rs 200 to Rs 2,100 for choosing seats, depending on various factors, including front rows and extra leg room, a travel industry executive had said last week.
The move to allocate a minimum of 60 per cent of seats for selection on any flight came against the backdrop of rising complaints that airlines were levying high charges for various services, including seat selection.
