Noida: In a decisive administrative action following the death of a software engineer whose car plunged into a water-filled basement pit near Sector-150, the Noida Authority has terminated the services of a junior engineer and registered criminal cases against two real-estate firms. The move has intensified scrutiny over safety compliance at the construction site and the functioning of the long-stalled Sports City project.
According to officials, the accident site lacked essential blinkers, barricading and warning signage, which contributed to the fatal mishap. Citing this lapse, the Authority dismissed Junior Engineer Naveen Kumar with immediate effect. Show-cause notices have also been issued to the senior manager and project manager responsible for monitoring safety arrangements in the area.
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The victim, Yuvraj Mehta, died late Friday night after his car broke through a drain wall and fell into a 30-foot-deep, waterlogged pit in the basement of an under-construction mall near the Sector-150 T-point. Mehta reportedly alerted his family after the incident, and rescue teams rushed to the site. However, the absence of adequate emergency equipment delayed the operation, and he could not be pulled out alive.
Builders booked for culpable homicide and negligence
On the basis of a complaint filed by the victim’s father, police at Knowledge Park Police Station registered an FIR against builder companies MZ Wishtown and Lotus Green under charges of culpable homicide not amounting to murder and criminal negligence. The complaint stated that a truck had earlier got stuck at the same location in heavy fog, but no corrective steps were taken to improve safety.
Police officials said the role of both firms is being investigated, particularly regarding whether the construction site was secured as per mandatory safety norms.
Authority begins internal inquiry into illegal excavation
The Noida Authority has also initiated an internal investigation into the excavation work and lack of road safety infrastructure at the project site. A special committee headed by the Authority’s general manager has been constituted to review land allotment records, construction approvals and compliance history of the accused builders.
Officials revealed that both builders are already defaulters of the Authority, with combined outstanding dues exceeding ₹3,000 crore. The land falls under the controversial Sports City Project (Plot No. 2), which was allotted to a consortium led by Lotus Green on July 7, 2014.
Within the same project, Wishtown was allotted 27,185 square metres in Block-A. As of March 2025, the firm owed ₹129.59 crore, despite multiple notices issued by the Authority.
CBI and ED scrutiny adds to pressure
The Sports City project has been under the scanner of central agencies following audit objections by the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG). The audit highlighted alleged irregularities in land allotment and accused officials of favouring builders, leading to an estimated financial loss of ₹8,643 crore to the Authority.
Subsequently, the High Court in February 2025 ordered a CBI and ED probe. The CBI has since seized all related project files and conducted drone surveys at the site. Police have now sought the same documents from the Authority to expand their investigation.
Notably, the Authority had recently lifted restrictions on occupancy and completion approvals for the Sports City plot. The minutes of that decision were released on Friday — the same day the fatal accident occurred — raising further questions about oversight and accountability.
Residents protest over civic negligence
Following the incident, residents of several housing societies in Sector-150 staged protests against the Authority and the builders, alleging gross negligence in maintaining public safety at major construction zones. Protesters said the stretch had become highly dangerous due to open pits, waterlogging and the absence of illumination, especially during dense winter fog.
Police confirmed that further arrests and administrative action may follow as the investigation progresses.
The tragedy has once again exposed the fragile enforcement of safety standards at large-scale urban development sites in Noida, prompting demands for stricter monitoring and immediate corrective measures.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
