Police say drug consignments were routed from Kalyan and circulated among students at events, with investigators now chasing the main accused behind the supply chain.
Representational image. Two MBA students died after a suspected drug overdose at a Mumbai concert, with police arresting six people in the case. | Photo by Charles Chen on Unsplash
The investigation into the deaths of two students at a Mumbai music concert has widened, with police making a seventh arrest and pointing to a larger narcotics supply chain operating around such events, officials said on Thursday.
The case, which began as a suspected overdose incident at a live concert in Goregaon, is now being treated as part of a broader network involving procurement, transport and distribution of synthetic drugs among students and young attendees.
Advertisement
According to Vanrai Police, the latest accused was picked up late at night and is believed to be linked to a wider syndicate supplying drugs at concerts and parties. He will be produced before a court.
Advertisement
Investigators said the probe has uncovered a structured supply route, with narcotics transported from Kalyan to Mumbai using couriers, including porters. These consignments were then circulated among students both before and during the concert at the NESCO Centre.
Officials said a batch of MDMA, commonly referred to as yellow pills, ecstasy or Molly, was supplied on April 10, a day before the event.
Police have identified Anand Patel and Pratik Pandey as key players in what they described as a significant drug network in the city. Patel allegedly sourced the MDMA, while Pandey handled distribution among students.
Another accused, Vinod Jain, has been named for allegedly allowing entry to attendees despite being aware that drugs were being carried into the venue.
According to the investigation, the two deceased students had bought four MDMA pills for Rs 6,400. The drugs were reportedly delivered to Pandey at his hostel in Charni Road, from where he distributed them within his circle.
Pandey, a first-year MBA student, is believed to have used his easy access to fellow students to circulate the drugs without attracting suspicion. Both he and Patel are originally from Kalyan, and officials said Patel had supplied narcotics to the same group earlier as well.
Police also found that some of the students had attended events in the Bandra Kurla Complex in October 2025, where drug consumption was reported.
A female student, currently undergoing treatment, told police she had consumed a yellow MDMA pill during the concert. She said she remembered dancing after taking the substance, but had no recollection of what happened next.
Multiple police teams are now working to trace the main accused, suspected to be the key organiser behind the supply chain.
Responding to the incident, the NESCO Centre issued a statement expressing condolences and denying any lapse on its part.
“Our heartfelt condolences are with the families and loved ones of those who have lost their lives, and we sincerely hope for the recovery of the individual currently undergoing treatment,” the statement said.
The venue management maintained that safety remains its top priority and that it is cooperating fully with investigators. “We are extending our full cooperation to the investigating authorities and are providing all necessary assistance to support a comprehensive and timely inquiry,” it added.
NESCO said it has complied with all regulatory requirements and had put in place necessary safety and security arrangements for the event.
“Adequate arrangements, including necessary safety and security measures, were put in place for the event in line with such requirements,” it said.
Reiterating its stance against narcotics, the venue said it follows a zero-tolerance policy. “All attendees are subject to clearly defined entry conditions, event terms, and on-ground protocols, which expressly prohibit such conduct and place responsibility for compliance on individuals,” the statement noted.
The management also rejected allegations of negligence. “We wish to state unequivocally that there has been no lapse or negligence on the part of NESCO or its employees in relation to this incident. Our employees, Mr Sunny Vinod Jain and Mr Balakrishnan Balaram, have discharged their responsibilities in accordance with established procedures and without any wrongdoing. We have full confidence that the ongoing investigation will establish the same,” it said.
“As the matter is currently under investigation, we will refrain from further comments at this stage. We remain committed to cooperating with the authorities and to ensuring that all events hosted at our venue meet the highest standards of safety and compliance,” the statement added.
Advertisement
