Following the tragic death of Yuvraj Mehta, a 27-year-old software engineer in Noida, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has strongly criticized what he describes as a "culture of greed" and a lack of accountability. Mehta died after his car plunged into a water-filled construction pit. Gandhi voiced his concerns, stating that the incident is a direct consequence of a societal environment marked by greed and disrespect for human life.

Gandhi conveyed his sentiments in a post on X, accompanied by a video containing eyewitness accounts that suggested a more rapid response could have saved Mehta's life. He argued that this "culture of greed and disrespect" is responsible for the perpetuation of such tragedies throughout India.

The Uttar Pradesh government has responded to the public outcry by removing the Noida Authority CEO and launching a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the circumstances surrounding Mehta's death. Demonstrators have alleged that the authorities had been alerted to the hazardous conditions at the site but failed to take appropriate action.

Gandhi has been a vocal critic of what he sees as a growing culture of silence and indifference in India. Speaking at an event on Monday, January 19, 2026, he stated, "Embedded in the culture of silence is also the idea of greed. It does not matter what is happening as long as I am getting what I need. I do not need to say anything. I can watch people being humiliated and killed. That is the culture of greed".

The incident has sparked widespread outrage and debate about urban management and safety standards in construction zones. Authorities in Delhi are reportedly planning to map high-risk zones on Google Maps in response to the incident. The police have arrested a real estate developer in connection with Mehta's death.

This tragedy occurs against a backdrop of other incidents highlighting negligence and lack of accountability. In Bhopal, the body of a 77-year-old man was discovered in a lift shaft 10 days after he fell, raising questions about safety protocols and response times.