The<a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-crime-news/article/mumbai-nesco-concert-tragedy-seventh-accused-held-in-drug-death-case-23626007?button=next" rel="none"> Vanrai Police</a> have arrested the alleged mastermind in the drug racket behind the overdose deaths at NESCO, Goregaon East, last week, taking the total number of accused in custody to nine.
The latest arrest is expected to significantly deepen the probe into what investigators now believe is a well-organised narcotics network operating across premium city events.
<img src="http://images.mid-day.com/images/images/2026/apr/NESCO-drugs-q_e.jpg" alt="The key accused, Ayush Sahitya, being escorted to court on Saturday. Pic/Special arrangement" width="1280" height="720" /> The key accused, Ayush Sahitya, being escorted to court on Saturday. Pic/Special Arrangement
The key accused, <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-crime-news/article/mumbai-drug-overdose-case-mumbai-police-nabs-another-key-accused-8-held-so-far-one-suspect-on-the-run-23626221" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Ayush Sahitya, </a>was apprehended in the early hours from Poladpur in Raigad district after evading arrest for days. A resident of Kalyan, Sahitya is said to be notorious in local circles for drug supply activities.
Police sources confirmed that he played a central role in sourcing and distributing synthetic drugs, particularly ecstasy pills, to multiple accused.
<h2>Illegal arrest, claims defence lawyer</h2>
In court on Saturday...
&gt;&gt; <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-news/article/navi-mumbai-booze-fuelled-rage-at-birthday-party-in-digha-leaves-man-dead-five-held-23626126" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">Five accused </a>were sent to judicial custody. Four alleged drug dealers, including Sahitya, were remanded in police custody till April 20.
&gt;&gt; Advocate Rishi Bhuta &mdash; representing NESCO employees Sunny Jain and Balkrishna Krup &mdash; claimed they were arrested illegally, as the police did not inform their relatives about the grounds of arrest. The court rejected his claim. &nbsp;
&gt;&gt; The police claimed five pills weighing 305 g &mdash; allegedly <a href="https://www.mid-day.com/mumbai/mumbai-crime-news/article/mumbai-drug-angle-safety-lapses-surface-after-fatal-incident-at-nesco-exhibition-centre-23625602" target="_blank" rel="none noopener">MDMA </a>&mdash; were recovered from accused Vineet Gerelani&rsquo;s house. The pills reportedly had &ldquo;Mercedes&rdquo; imprinted on them. His lawyer contended that the pills had been planted there.
<h2>Lapses at venue</h2>
The Vanrai police have alleged serious lapses at the event venue
&gt;&gt; &ldquo;Sahitya allegedly gained entry to the concert without a ticket by paying off the bouncers R1000. &nbsp;They were not NESCO staff; they had been appointed by the event organisers,&rdquo; said a source from the police.&nbsp;
&gt;&gt; Two more of Sahitya&rsquo;s accomplices paid R2000 each to the bouncers for unauthorised entry
&gt;&gt; Co-accused Shubh Agarwal entered legitimately with a purchased ticket.
&gt;&gt; CCTV footage reviewed by police shows both accused actively present inside the concert premises.
&gt;&gt; Sources said Sahitya delivered pre-ordered drugs and also sold pills to others.
&gt;&gt; A bouncer from the event has been detained for questioning and is likely to be arrested for facilitating illegal entry.
<h2>Pills were pre-ordered for Rs 1500 each</h2>
&gt;&gt; A student group had allegedly ordered 21 ecstasy pills for R1500 each in advance and consumed it in the parking area. A couple of them consumed drugs and alcohol on the way to the concert. Police say this was not a one-off incident, but part of a pattern of drug use at multiple events.
&gt;&gt; Investigators have traced similar activities to previous events held at BKC, Mahalaxmi, and Mazagon. In these instances too, drugs were reportedly procured from the same supplier network, often delivered via courier services.
&gt;&gt; Prior to the concert, a WhatsApp group of 31 members was created by two students accused. The accused Anand Patel and Shubh Agarwal were also members of this group.

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Students pre-ordered the drugs on WhatsApp; key accused entered the concert venue without a ticket, say the police

Mumbai: Drug kingpin in NESCO overdose case arrested

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