Before joining active politics, Mehta was an educationist, working as professor at Birla Institute of Technology Mesra.

Mehta was a member of socialist camp during Indian freedom struggle and had remained an active part of Azad Dasta (a rebel group constituted by Jayprakash Narayan) during Quit India movement.

He was supported by his elder brother Chandra Bhanu Mehta; both of them were involved in revolutionary activities during the Quit India movement, 1942.

During the same time, he came in contact with Karpoori Thakur and assisted the 'Azad Dasta', a rebel group made by socialist leaders during the 1942 Quit India movement.

He along with his elder brother helped Vashishta Narayan Singh, a revolutionary, in seeking shelter after his escape from Darbhanga Jail.

[2][1] Mehta was elected to 6th Lok Sabha in 1978 and during 1979-82, he served as a member of Parliamentary Committee on Papers Laid on the Table.