Former Delhi chief secretary Rakesh Mehta allegedly died by suicide at his residence in Sector 82, Noida, on September 6, police said on Tuesday. He was 74.

Police said they recovered a note in which Mehta cited health and medical issues as the reason for taking the extreme step. The one-page note found at the flat did not hold anyone responsible and mentioned that he was distressed by illness.

His cremation was held at the Lodhi Road crematorium on Monday.

A 1975-batch IAS officer, Mehta served as Delhi's chief secretary under former chief minister Sheila Dikshit from 2007 to 2010. During his tenure, he was associated with the execution of several major transport, power and civic infrastructure projects in the national capital. Delhi also hosted the Commonwealth Games during this period.

Mehta had earlier served as the commissioner of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD).

According to police, Mehta had been living alone in a rented flat at Kendriya Vihar-2 society in Noida for nearly five years. His wife, also a retired IAS officer of the Delhi cadre, and their son are based in Dehradun, while their married daughter lives in London.

Police said Mehta's wife spoke to him over the phone on Saturday night. When family members were unable to reach him despite repeated calls on Sunday, they alerted the society's security guards. The guards went to the flat and found him hanging from a ceiling fan.

A forensic team visited the spot to collect evidence, while the body was sent for postmortem examination. Police have launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death. No complaint has been filed by the family so far.

Family members said Mehta had been suffering from hypertension, diabetes and other health problems. They also said he had been experiencing tremors in his right hand and leg.

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