By Karmrath News Desk
Greater Noida: As official investigations continue into the death of 27-year-old software engineer Yuvraj Mehta, the focus has increasingly shifted to the testimony of eyewitness Mohinder Singh, whose account has raised troubling questions about both rescue failures and the conduct of the local police.
Singh, a delivery worker who was present near the accident site on the night Mehta’s SUV plunged into a water-filled excavation pit in Sector 150, has alleged that police officials later attempted to influence his statements through indirect intimidation.
According to Singh, Mehta was alive after the car fell into the trench and could be heard pleading for help.
“After the car fell into the ditch, for one to one and a half hours, he was crying out for help, saying ‘please save me’,” Singh was quoted as saying in media reports.
He described attempting to assist by tying a rope around his waist and entering the water, but said the depth and conditions made the rescue extremely difficult.
Singh has consistently maintained that the emergency response at the site was inadequate. While police and fire officials were present, he claims specialised rescue equipment and divers arrived much later. These claims are based on eyewitness testimony and have not yet been formally corroborated by the ongoing Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe.
The controversy deepened after Singh spoke to the media. In an interview, he alleged that he was later summoned by police officers.
“I was called by the police saying that senior officers wanted to talk to me regarding the case. When I went there, three to four officers took me to a nearby park close to Knowledge Park police station and scolded me for speaking to the media,” Singh said.
He further alleged that police officials attempted to shape his narrative.
“I was directed to give statements in favour of the police, saying that cops were inside the water and did all possible efforts to rescue Yuvraj Mehta,” he told media.
According to Singh, the pressure went beyond verbal instructions.
“They also verbally gave me a script and recorded a video. As I was scared, I said ‘okay’ and agreed to follow the directions, but I decided that I am the only eyewitness in the case and I will stand with the truth,” he was quoted as saying.
While Singh has clarified that no explicit threat was issued, he said the implication was clear.
“The cops said the case would disappear from the media in two to three days, but you live here,” he told media, describing the remark as an indirect warning that left him feeling intimidated.
Police officials have denied allegations of coercion and maintain that all procedures were followed lawfully. They have stated that Singh was called only to record his version of events and that no pressure was applied. These competing claims are expected to be examined by the SIT.
The broader facts of the case are not disputed. Yuvraj Mehta died after his SUV fell into a deep, waterlogged pit at a construction site that lacked adequate barricading, reflectors or warning signage. A post-mortem confirmed death due to drowning. An FIR has been registered against the developer responsible for the site, and one builder has been arrested. Following public outrage, the Uttar Pradesh government ordered an SIT probe and removed the Noida Authority CEO, citing administrative lapses.
As the SIT probe continues, Singh’s statements and the circumstances under which they were recorded are likely to play a crucial role in determining whether the case is viewed solely as an accident caused by civic negligence or as a larger institutional failure involving multiple authorities.