Mumbai concert horror: Drugs supplied via porter; 2 students dead

Mumbai: Two college students lost their lives and another remains in critical condition after allegedly consuming the party drug ecstasy during a concert held on Saturday. According to a report, the police have arrested the peddler who supplied the substance to the students.

The accused supplier, identified as Anand Patel, was produced before a court on Tuesday and has been remanded to police custody until April 16. The incident took place at the NESCO Exhibition Centre in Goregaon during a music event.

Students attended concert with classmates

Shreya Rai, 24, and Sheetal Salvi, 25, attended the ‘999999999 Music Concert’ along with fellow students from the Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies. They were present in the crowd when they reportedly began experiencing breathing difficulties and dizziness, eventually collapsing.

A friend rushed both women to the hospital following the incident.

Another attendee, identified as Bismat Singh Amarjit Singh Bhasin, 28, who was present at the same event, reported symptoms including dizziness and convulsions in the limbs.

Rai and Bhasin were admitted to hospitals but later died during treatment. Salvi continues to receive treatment in the intensive care unit.

Police probe reveals drug consumption

In her statement to the police, Salvi said that she and Rai had consumed a yellow pill provided by their friend Raunak Khandelwal. She later confirmed to investigators that the substance was ecstasy.

Khandelwal was detained by the police, and during questioning, the identity of the alleged drug supplier was uncovered. Investigators also found that the pills had been delivered to the students using the Porter application.

Six arrested in connection with case

So far, six people have been taken into custody in connection with the case. These include:

Anand Patel, identified as the drug peddler

Balkrishna Kurup, 46, vice president of the NESCO Exhibition Centre

Sunny Vinod Jain, 31, associated with Kurup

Akash Banmari Samal, 31, an employee of Nagpur-based production house Inspiring Tie Production, which organised the event

Raunak Rahul Khandelwal, 25, a college student

Pratik Bijesh Pandey, 24, a college student

Event organisers under scrutiny

Apart from the alleged drug supply, the organisers of the event are also facing scrutiny. Police stated that they failed to adequately check for narcotics at the venue and did not have proper licensing for serving alcohol.

As per the remand application accessed by the report, authorities noted that despite being aware of restrictions under the Liquor Prohibition Act regarding serving alcohol to people below the age of 25, the organisers allegedly served alcohol to the deceased and others who did not possess valid liquor permits.