Cops want to question man who flew to Thailand after Mumbai drug overdose tragedy

MUMBAI: An individual whom Mumbai police want to question in connection with the supply of Ecstasy pills at a music concert in Goregaon that left two MBA students dead, reportedly flew to Thailand after the incident and has not returned since. His close associate, Jiya Jacob (33), was held on Wednesday after the police found financial transactions between her and four of the arrested accused. Jacob, a Mira Road resident, is an artist by profession.A 28-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman—part of a group of 25 MBA students attending a music concert at an exhibition ground in Goregaon East— popped Ecstasy pills and died a day later. Another 25-year-old female student was critical after consuming the drug but received treatment and is back home. Late on Wednesday, police recovered 933 pills worth Rs 15.4 lakh from Poladpur in Raigad where prime accused Ayush Sahitya had tried to dispose of them before his arrest. Sahitya was fleeing to Goa in a car with friends when a Poladpur police team apprehended him in a nakabandi on April 17. Police said the pills weigh 435 gm and inquiries are on to find out where Sahitya got them from. Sahitya has a prior criminal case registered against him at another police station, officials added.Sahitya and his co-accused Anand Patel, Shubh Agarwal, Vineet Gerelani and Jacob were produced before a magistrate court at Borivli. While Jacob was remanded to police custody till Monday, the four men were sent to judicial custody.An analysis of bank statements by the police has shown that the quartet sent money to Jacob on the instructions of one Mark. While Patel transferred Rs 64,000, Gerelani sent Rs 22,500, Agrawal around Rs 1.7 lakh and Sahitya sent the maximum—Rs 1.8 lakh. The money was sent online via a QR code. Police have also found WhatsApp chats between Jacob and Sahitya over money transfers and suspect the money was from the sale of drugs. Police said Jacob and Sahitya were acquainted. Investigators are probing when and where did the two first come into contact. Besides, police will question all those who made financial transactions with Patel, Gerelani, Agrawal and Sahitya before and after the concert. Patel's lawyers, Azad Gupta and Surendra Landge, said no drug recovery was made from him.