17 July,2026 08:30 AM IST | Mumbai | Samiullah Khan
Accused Vineet Gerelani (with face covered) in whose house 15 Ecstasy pills were allegedly found. File Pics
The Vanrai police have stated in their charge sheet filed in the death case of two young concert-goers at a music festival in Goregaon East in April that the tragedy was caused by an organised MDMA drug network that allegedly flourished within the venue, NESCO Exhibition Centre, amid glaring security lapses and negligence by the event organisers.
The investigation has led to the arrest of 15 accused, while several others remain absconding, including an alleged international MDMA supplier whose identity has been established by investigators.
Alleged international MDMA supplier Mahesh âMark' Khemlani (in black T-shirt). File Pics/By Special Arrangement
Police have issued a lookout circular (LOC) against the overseas suspect. Last week, the Vanrai police filed a detailed charge sheet against 12 accused, outlining the alleged conspiracy, drug supply network, forensic evidence, and the circumstances that led to the deaths of the two victims.
The incident took place during the 999999999 Live NESCO Warehouse Techno Concert, held between 9.30 pm on April 11 and 12.30 am on April 12. According to the prosecution, Bismad Singh Bhasin, 28, and Shreya Rai, 24, died after allegedly consuming ecstasy or MDMA (Methylenedioxymethamphetamine) pills along with alcohol, while another attendee, Sheetal Salvi, survived but suffered serious health complications.
Jiya Jacob, who the police allege received proceeds from an MDMA trafficking network in her bank account
The Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL), Kalina, reportedly detected MDMA in the viscera of the deceased, strengthening the prosecution's case.
The prosecution further alleges that Pratik Pandey created a WhatsApp group of JBIMS students to coordinate the purchase of pills before the concert. According to the investigators, students allegedly transferred money into Pandey's bank account, after which payments were routed through multiple accused, including Anand Patel, Shubh Agarwal, Vineet Gerelani, and Ayush Sahitya, eventually leading to the procurement and distribution of the drugs. Police claim the pills were delivered through a chain of intermediaries before reaching students attending the NESCO concert.
>> Deployed fewer security personnel than required
>> Kept Emergency Gate No. 9 open
>> Allowed suspected drug suppliers to enter without proper frisking
>> Instructed security personnel to ignore suspicious activity
>> Permitted drugs to be sold and consumed inside the venue
Ayush Sahitya allegedly sourced thousands of MDMA pills from suppliers and later distributed them through associates. During the investigation, police allegedly recovered 933 Ecstasy pills weighing about 435 grams (classified as a commercial quantity under the NDPS Act).
Vineet Gerelani was allegedly found with 15 Ecstasy pills during a house search.
Bank transactions worth several lakhs, allegedly linked to drug sales, have also been documented in the charge sheet.
Investigators allege that money generated from the sale of Ecstasy pills was transferred through multiple bank accounts, including those belonging to associates and relatives of the accused.
The charge sheet alleges that Raunak Rahul Khandelwal, a student of Jamnalal Bajaj Institute of Management Studies (JBIMS), knowingly procured MDMA pills through co-accused Pratik Pandey and allegedly distributed them among fellow students, including the victims.
Investigators claim Raunak collected money from several college friends for purchasing both pills and concert tickets, while additional payments were allegedly made in cash.
FSL examination of seized tablets reportedly confirmed they contained MDMA.
Police allege that Vihan alias Akash Samal, owner of Inspiring Tie Production and organiser of the concert, along with Balakrishnan Kurup, vice-president (events) of NESCO, and Sunny Vinod Jain, senior manager at NESCO, knowingly failed to prevent drug trafficking despite allegedly being aware that narcotics were likely to be brought into the venue.
The charge sheet further alleges that the organisers obtained police permission by stating that only 350 to 400 people would attend the event on a rotational basis between 7 pm and 10 pm.
However, investigators claim that the organisers allegedly sold tickets to around 4286 attendees, continued the concert until 12.30 am, and violated the conditions of the permission.
Police have also alleged that liquor was sold inside the venue and that persons below the legally permissible age were allowed to consume it.
The accused have been charge-sheeted under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, and the Maharashtra Prohibition Act. The prosecution alleges offences relating to culpable acts leading to death, criminal conspiracy, drug trafficking, illegal possession and distribution of narcotic substances, and violations of licensing and event permission conditions.
The forensic investigation into the tragedy has revealed that both deceased had consumed MDMA before their deaths, while the narcotic pills recovered from two accused also tested positive for the same banned substance. Ecstasy pills seized from Greelani and Sahitya, were chemically analysed and confirmed to contain MDMA, strengthening the prosecution's allegation that the banned party drug was being circulated at the concert.
[popcorn number="April 11" desc="Day concert was held" class="Default"]
