Mumbai police have arrested actress Jiya Jacob in connection with the NESCO concert drug case, where two MBA students died after allegedly consuming ecstasy pills. This takes the total number of arrested accused in the case to 11.
Jacob, 33, was picked up from her home in Ulhasnagar on Wednesday after police found a money trail linking her to the accused. She had been questioned earlier, but has now been formally arrested. She will be produced before the Borivali court, where police are likely to seek custody for further investigation.
According to officers from Vanrai police station, Jacob came under the radar following questioning of the main accused, Ayush Sahitya. “During inquiry, we found that money had been credited to Jacob's bank account. Her account has been frozen to find out the total amount she received,” an officer told Hindustan Times.
Police believe she received around Rs 3 lakh from different accused, including Anand Patel, Vineet Gerelani, and Shubh Agarwal. They have also found digital payment records and WhatsApp chats as evidence. Officials said Jacob was present at the concert and had also consumed drugs. However, her exact role in the case is still being investigated.
The incident took place on April 11 at a music concert held at the NESCO Exhibition Centre in Goregaon (East). A group of about 25 MBA students attended the event. A 28-year-old man and a 24-year-old woman from the group died the next day after allegedly taking ecstasy pills. Some others also took ill. Police are waiting for forensic reports to confirm the exact cause of death.
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In a related development, the Free Press Journal reported that police recovered 933 ecstasy pills worth about Rs 15 lakh from Poladpur in Raigad district. These pills were allegedly dumped by accused Sahitya while trying to flee toward Goa.
So far, police have recorded the statements from over 40 people, including students who attended the concert. They have also questioned Sahitya's sister after finding money transfers linked to the case.
Police are now on the lookout for a bigger drug supplier connected to the case and more arrests are likely in the case.
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