Police probe 14.9L cash trail in MBA students’ ecstasy death case in Mumbai

Mumbai: Police investigating the deaths of two MBA students from a suspected drug overdose told a magistrate court on Monday that wanted accused Mahesh Khemlani and his partner, Jiya Jacob, had deposited Rs 14.95 lakh in cash into her bank account, and they need to find out the source of this income.Jacob, a bar dancer, was arrested last week and the court extended her police custody till April 30. Khemlani left the country soon after the incident and police are looking for him.A 28-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman — part of a group of 25 MBA students attending a music concert at Goregaon on April 11 — died from consumption of Ecstasy pills. Another female student, who had also consumed Ecstasy, took ill and has since been treated.Police told the court that on Khemlani's instructions, four other accused (previously arrested in this case) had deposited money into Jacob's bank account. Khemlani had sent them the QR code. Of the quartet, Anand Patel transferred Rs 64,000 to Jacob, Vineet Gerelani sent Rs 22,500, Shubh Agarwal sent Rs 1.66 lakh and prime accused, Ayush Sahitya, transferred Rs 1.84 lakh to her. Police have also found WhatsApp messages between Jacob and Sahitya about the money transfers. Police suspect these transactions amounting to Rs 4.37 lakh collectively were proceeds from sale of Ecstasy pills. Patel, Gerelani, Agarwal and Sahitya are presently in judicial custody.Police told the court that Jacob was acquainted with Khemlani since 2012, and was living with him for the past four years. She had also transferred money to his mother. Police have also recorded statement of Khemlani's brother.Jacob's lawyer, Pankaj Jadhav, told the court that she had made money from dances and was neither present at the music concert nor is there is any evidence to show that she had supplied drugs. He added that she had a prior criminal record connected to her profession, but not to any drug-related case. Jadhav added that she had sent money to Khemlani's mother for her medical expenses "as any daughter-in-law would."