A senior executive of the state-run Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) died on Saturday morning after falling from the balcony of his 17th-floor apartment in a Noida residential society. The police are investigating the incident as a suspected suicide, although the family has initially contested this claim.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The incident occurred around 10:15 am on Saturday, January 5, 2026, at the ATS One Hamlet Society in Noida's Sector 104. The deceased has been identified as Ajay Garg, aged 55, who held the position of Executive Director at IOC. He was a resident of the apartment along with his wife, Mayuri.
According to police reports, security personnel and bystanders rushed to the spot after hearing a loud noise and found Garg lying on the ground in a critical condition. He was immediately taken to a nearby hospital, where doctors declared him dead on arrival.
Suicide Note Recovered, Family Disputes Claim
Officers from the Sector 34 police station stated that a suicide note was recovered from Garg's room during a forensic examination. The note, written in Hindi, read, "Main apne parivaar se bada pyaar karta hoon (I love my family very much)." The police clarified that the note did not mention any names or specify a reason for the extreme step.
"Forensic teams were able to recover the suicide note from his room. In the note, he has not blamed anyone," said Dharamprakash Shukla, the Station House Officer (SHO). The note has been sent for handwriting analysis to confirm its authenticity, with results expected in 10 to 15 days.
However, during initial questioning, Garg's family members disputed the suicide theory. They suggested to the police that the fall might have been accidental, possibly occurring when Garg stepped onto the balcony to get better mobile network reception. His wife informed the police that she was in the kitchen preparing tea at the time of the incident.
Investigation and Aftermath
Garg, originally from Indira Nagar in Kanpur's Mukherjee Vihar, was employed at IOC's office in Kidwai Nagar, South Delhi. His son, who works in Mumbai, arrived in Noida on Sunday evening. The last rites were performed on Sunday at a cremation ground in Noida's Sector 94.
The police have stated that the investigation is ongoing. They have questioned the family and are awaiting the forensic report on the suicide note before drawing any final conclusions. No formal complaint has been lodged by the family at this stage.
This tragic event has sent shockwaves through the residential community and Garg's professional circles, highlighting the often-hidden pressures faced by corporate executives.
