Alleged Drug Mastermind Arrested on Mumbai-Goa Highway in Fatal Overdose Case
In a dramatic late-night operation, the alleged mastermind behind a suspected drug overdose case that claimed the lives of two MBA students was apprehended on the Mumbai-Goa Highway. Ayush Sahitya, 24, was arrested from Poladpur on Friday evening as he attempted to flee to Goa, marking a significant breakthrough in the investigation.
Court Proceedings and Additional Arrests
Sahitya was produced before a magistrate court at Borivli on Saturday, where he was remanded to police custody until Monday. He was joined in custody by two co-accused: construction businessman Anand Patel and college student Vineet Gerlani. In a crucial development, police recovered five Ecstasy pills weighing 305 grams from Gerlani's residence—the first physical evidence of drugs in this case.
Tragic Incident at Music Concert
The case stems from a tragic event on April 11, when a group of 25 MBA students attended a music concert at an exhibition ground in Goregaon East. A 28-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman from the group consumed Ecstasy pills and died the following day. Additionally, a 25-year-old woman was hospitalized after falling ill from taking the same drug.
Investigation and Financial Links
Vanrai police, who have arrested eight individuals so far, intensified their search for Sahitya after uncovering financial transactions and a high volume of phone calls between him and Gerlani. According to police claims, Gerlani was supplying drugs to individuals and transferring the proceeds to Sahitya. Investigators also revealed that both Gerlani and Sahitya had gained illegal entry to the music concert by bribing a bouncer at the venue.
Dramatic Highway Arrest
During the probe, Vanrai police received intelligence that Sahitya was fleeing to Goa by car. They alerted Poladpur police, who, along with the local crime branch, set up a checkpoint to inspect all vehicles heading toward Goa. Police teams carried a photo of Sahitya and conducted thorough checks. Around 10:30 PM, officers stopped a car and examined its two occupants. As they were about to release the vehicle, they noticed movement in the backseat.
The car's windows were tinted with black film, prompting police to ask the driver to switch on the interior light. Upon doing so, they discovered a man hiding under a pile of bags in the backseat. The individual matched Sahitya's photo and was immediately taken into custody. The car was seized, while the other two occupants were released. Police have indicated that more arrests are possible as the investigation continues.
Legal Challenges and Security Concerns
In their remand application, police stated that an agency had been hired to handle security at the music concert, and its staff requires questioning. On Saturday, lawyers for two accused individuals working at the exhibition ground, Sunny Jain and Balkrishna Kurup, filed an application claiming their arrest was illegal because their families were not informed of the grounds. The magistrate rejected this application and sent them to judicial custody. Advocate Rishi Bhuta, representing the duo, announced plans to appeal to the Bombay High Court on Monday.
Police have not ruled out further arrests as they delve deeper into the network behind this tragic incident, which has highlighted concerns about drug availability at public events and the safety of young attendees.
