The Vanrai Police have apprehended Shubh Agarwal, the eighth suspect linked to the tragic deaths of two management students, which are believed to have resulted from a drug overdose during a concert at NESCO in Goregaon. Agarwal is a management student attending a college in Andheri.
Authorities reported that the primary supplier of the drugs, identified as Ayush, is currently on the run. He is accused of distributing ecstasy to numerous college students, who then shared it within their social circles. Agarwal, a resident of Khadakpada in Kalyan, is said to have been acquainted with Anand Patel, an alleged drug dealer, and Pratik Pandey, a classmate of the deceased. According to police, Agarwal was also present at the concert.
Investigators revealed that Pandey had arranged to acquire drugs from Patel after hearing about the concert. Patel reportedly provided ecstasy to Agarwal, who then delivered it to Pandey at his hostel located in South Mumbai. Following his arrest, Agarwal was brought before a court and placed in police custody until April 20.
The investigation uncovered that Ayush, who remains at large, and Vineet Gerelani, another arrested individual, were operating parallel drug supply networks and managing finances from their customers collaboratively. Gerelani was also at the concert, and a forensic examination of his phone indicated drug-related messages with numerous contacts via Snapchat, along with financial transactions associated with Ayush.
Authorities suspect that Ayush was present at the concert on April 11, and Gerelani’s call logs showed he frequently communicated with him. An officer noted, “The messages suggest a significant involvement in the distribution of illegal substances.”
In court, the legal representative for the event organizing company and NESCO asserted that all necessary permissions were secured from relevant departments, including law enforcement. They noted that while permission was granted until 10 PM, the concert reportedly extended until 12:30 AM on April 12. Despite the presence of police near the venue, the event continued without interruption, allowing drug dealers to operate within the premises, according to an anonymous source.
The police stated that they were present during the concert and instructed the organizers to halt the music, but their requests were ignored. “Legal measures were enforced, and it is documented in the FIR that the organizers continued the performance past the permitted time,” a senior officer confirmed.
NESCO issued a statement asserting, “We want to clarify that neither NESCO nor our staff exhibited any negligence regarding this incident. As this matter is under investigation, we will refrain from further comments. We are dedicated to cooperating with authorities to ensure that all events hosted at our facility adhere to the highest standards of safety and compliance.”
Manish Kumar Pathak is a seasoned journalist with The Indian Express in Mumbai, specializing in crime reporting. His extensive experience and authority in law enforcement, fraud, and cybersecurity issues in the metropolitan area are evident in his work.
Pathak’s affiliation with The Indian Express, a prominent national daily, underscores the reliability of his reporting. He provides detailed coverage of breaking news and investigative stories across Mumbai and its neighboring regions, including Thane and Vasai. His expertise spans critical areas such as cyber and financial crime, law enforcement actions, and major public safety incidents.
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