Mumbai: Student among accused moves sessions court for bail in NESCO drug death case

The sessions court is likely to hear the bail plea on Tuesday and has sought a response from the Vanrai police. Representational Pic

In a fresh development in the NESCO drug overdose death case, one of the arrested accused, identified as Accused No. 1 and a student, has approached a sessions court seeking bail.

The accused is among five individuals who were earlier remanded to judicial custody on Saturday.

The sessions court is likely to hear the bail plea on Tuesday and has sought a response from the Vanrai police.

'Bouncer played key role in NESCO drug overdose tragedy'

The Borivli metropolitan magistrate court has extended till April 23 the police custody of four alleged drug suppliers, Ayush Sahitya, Shubh Agarwal, Vineet Gerelani, and Anand Patel, in connection with the NESCO music concert drug overdose death case, as investigators widen the probe into what now appears to be a larger drug syndicate. The case has now seen 10 arrests, with the latest being that of a bouncer, Pradeep Gupta, accused of running a "backdoor entry" racket.

Gupta allegedly allowed several individuals, including the key accused, unauthorised access to the event without tickets. Police claim he facilitated entry for multiple individuals linked to drug distribution at the concert, suggesting security lapses or possible collusion, ultimately resulting in the deaths of two students.

Syndicate angle

According to sources from the Vanrai police, the investigation has uncovered links pointing to a major, absconding drug trafficker operating behind the scenes.

Analysis of Call Data Records (CDR) and bank transactions spanning 10 days before and after the NESCO event revealed that the arrested accused were in direct contact with the key supplier. Financial trails indicate multiple transactions routed not just to the main supplier, but also to his wife's bank account, raising suspicions of a well-organised laundering network.

Police are now gathering detailed banking data to determine the full extent of the financial chain and identify other possible links. Investigators believe that Sahitya is aware of the absconding supplier's whereabouts, and efforts are underway to trace and arrest him.

What lies ahead?

With investigators now treating the case as part of a structured drug syndicate, the focus remains on:
>> Tracking down the absconding kingpin
>> Decoding the money trail across multiple accounts
>> Establishing the role of event organisers and facilitators
>> Police maintain that a comprehensive, chain-linked investigation is essential to dismantle the network behind the tragedy