The Uttar Pradesh government has removed Noida Authority CEO M Lokesh following the death of a 27-year-old software engineer whose car plunged into a water-filled pit at a construction site in Noida’s Sector 150, triggering public outrage and allegations of official negligence.

The victim, Yuvraj Mehta, was returning home from work late on Friday when his vehicle fell into the pit amid dense fog conditions. Police said the engineer suffocated under water and also suffered a cardiac arrest, leading to his death.

Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the incident. According to an official statement, the SIT has been directed to conduct a detailed investigation and submit its report to the chief minister within five days.

Allegations of negligence and delayed rescue

The victim’s father, Raj Kumar Mehta, accused local authorities of negligence and demanded accountability to prevent similar incidents in the future. He said responsibility must be fixed so that “no one else loses their son like this”.

A delivery agent who witnessed the incident claimed that rescue efforts were delayed, suggesting that the engineer could have survived if timely action had been taken. Residents of the area staged protests, alleging inadequate barricading and the absence of reflectors at the accident-prone construction site.

Police, however, denied negligence in the rescue operation. An FIR has been registered against two real estate developers following a complaint by the victim’s family.

Barricades installed after protests

After protests by local residents, the Noida Authority installed barricades at the site where the accident occurred. The incident has renewed concerns over safety measures at construction zones, particularly during low-visibility conditions.

The case has sparked wider discussions on accountability and enforcement of safety norms at infrastructure and real estate project sites across the region.

In the wake of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election results, Congress MP and Mumbai Congress President Varsha Gaikwad has launched a sharp attack on Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, accusing him of lacking confidence in his own corporators.

Speaking to media, Gaikwad dismissed speculation about any defection within the Congress and questioned the decision by the Shinde-led Shiv Sena faction to move its newly elected corporators to a luxury hotel in Bandra.

Resort politics allegation after BMC polls

Calling it an unprecedented move in the city’s civic politics, Gaikwad alleged that “hotel and resort politics” has entered the BMC for the first time.

She said Shinde’s actions reflected fear that his corporators could switch sides. According to her, such steps exposed a trust deficit within the ruling Mahayuti alliance.

Gaikwad asserted that the Congress, despite a reduced tally, remains united and rooted among the people. She described the party’s 24 corporators as “24-carat gold,” underlining their loyalty and independence.

Congress dismisses defection speculation

Contrasting the two camps, Gaikwad said Congress corporators were moving freely across the city and staying connected with citizens, unlike those confined to hotels.

She also addressed statements by Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut, who had suggested that political equations could still change in the BMC. Gaikwad clarified that no discussions or negotiations were underway between the Congress and UBT regarding control of the civic body.

“There are no backdoor talks and no such initiative has even begun,” she said, rejecting rumours of a possible shift in power.

Internal dissent reflects democracy, says Gaikwad

Responding to questions on internal dissent within the Mumbai Congress, including demands for her resignation by senior leaders, Gaikwad maintained that such differences reflected internal democracy.

She said leaders in the Congress were free to express opinions, unlike other parties where dissent is not tolerated.

India has conveyed strong concerns to Poland over what it described as “selective and unfair targeting” related to its trade ties with Russia amid the Ukraine war, while firmly cautioning Warsaw against extending any form of support to Pakistan on issues linked to cross-border terrorism.

The concerns were raised by external affairs minister S Jaishankar during talks with Polish deputy prime minister and foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski in New Delhi, where both sides reviewed the growing India-Poland strategic partnership and discussed key global and regional developments.

India-Poland strategic partnership review

Welcoming the Polish delegation, Jaishankar said the discussions were taking place at a time of major global uncertainty, making dialogue between countries from different regions essential. He noted that India and Poland had elevated their relationship to a strategic partnership during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Warsaw in August 2024.

The two sides reviewed the Action Plan 2024–28 and explored ways to expand cooperation in areas including trade, investment, defence, security, clean technologies and digital innovation.

India’s stand on Ukraine conflict

The Ukraine war figured prominently in the talks, with Jaishankar reiterating India’s position on the issue. He said he had candidly shared New Delhi’s views with Sikorski on several occasions and again underlined India’s objections during the New Delhi meeting.

Jaishankar stated that the selective targeting of India through tariffs and other pressure measures over its Moscow trade ties was unfair and unjustified. India has consistently maintained that it supports dialogue and diplomacy to resolve the conflict and opposes attempts to influence its independent foreign policy choices through selective pressure.

Warning on terrorism and Pakistan

Jaishankar also raised India’s long-standing concern over cross-border terrorism, stressing that Poland should adopt a zero-tolerance approach. He said Warsaw should not, directly or indirectly, contribute to the terrorist infrastructure in India’s neighbourhood, a remark widely seen as a reference to Pakistan.

India has intensified diplomatic outreach in Europe to ensure that partners remain mindful of Pakistan’s record on terrorism financing and safe havens for extremist groups. Jaishankar’s message underscored that New Delhi expects consistency and principle from its strategic partners on the issue.

The remarks were also viewed in the context of Poland’s statement on Kashmir during a bilateral visit to Islamabad in October 2025.

Poland echoes concern over selective pressure

Responding to India’s concerns, Sikorski said Poland agreed that selective targeting through tariffs was unfair and could disrupt global trade stability. Referring to incidents in his own country, he said Poland had faced acts of arson and attempted state terrorism, including attacks on railway infrastructure, and underlined the need to counter trans-border terrorism.

Growing economic ties

The meeting took place against the backdrop of expanding economic engagement between the two countries. Poland is among India’s key trading partners in Central Europe, with bilateral trade at around USD 7 billion and Indian investments exceeding USD 3 billion.

Both sides expressed confidence that the strategic partnership would continue to deepen, even as India used the dialogue to clearly articulate its red lines on geopolitical pressure and terrorism.