M A I N   N E W S

IT doyen Dewang Mehta dead

New Delhi, April 12
A prominent personality in the Information Technology sector and President of the National Association of Software and Service Companies (NASSCOM) Dewang Mehta died in his hotel room in Sydney today.

Union Information Technology Minister Pramod Mahajan said on telephone from Sydney that “I was informed by the Indian High Commissioner here around 8 p.m. that Mr Dewang Mehta had been found dead in his hotel room around 5 p.m. local time (12.30 p.m. IST).’’

Asked about the cause of death, Mr Mahajan said this was yet to be ascertained and the police was investigating. “nothing could be said at present. The police is here and it is carrying out its investigation.”

A shocked Mr Mahajan, as part of whose delegation Mr Mehta was visiting Australia, said the 38-year-old NASSCOM chief was “hale and hearty when he met him at 10.30 p.m. last night. “There was no sign of any illness. He was smiling as ever,” Mr Mahajan said.

Mr Mehta had to take a flight at 6.30 p.m. (local time) and when he did not respond to many telephone calls transferred to his room, the staff of Hotel Park Hyatt, Sydney, forced open the door of his room around 5 p.m. only to find him lying dead on his bed.

The Union Information Technology Minister described Mr Mehta’s death as a “huge loss” to the IT sector. If there was any one person who deserved credit for promoting Information Technology in the country it was Mr Dewang,” he said.

Asked if the body was being flown to India, Mr Mahajan said he would make all efforts to bring back the body with him tomorrow. But, it all depends on the investigations by the police. The police will hand over the body to the Indian High Commission only after all procedural formalities are completed.”

The minister was informed about the death of Mr Mehta at 5.30 a.m. local time.

The IT delegation’s trip to Australia ended last night with a dinner hosted by the Indian community, where Mr Mehta also was present. The team was to return to India tomorrow.

The NASSCOM chief had returned to his room around 11 p.m. and what happened after that was not known.

When contacted, the hotel management, did not give any details. UNI