Goregaon concert drug deaths: Bombay High Court  grants bail to 2 NESCO employees

Investigations revealed that synthetic party drug — “ecstasy” — was consumed by the deceased students who attended a techno music concert held at the exhibition ground on April 11. The event drew a crowd of nearly 3,000 to 4,000 people, many of whom were college students.

The judge directed the applicants to furnish a personal bond of Rs 1 lakh along with sureties of the same amount and cooperate with the probe and the trial. The bench also directed their release on provisional cash bail. The court also refused the police’s request to grant a stay on the operation of the order.

Senior advocate Girish Godbole for the applicants argued that the two were merely discharging their professional duties and had no involvement in the alleged drug-related activity, and had no role in security arrangements. He argued that they were also not involved in the distribution or consumption of the contraband and that the event organiser, Akash Samal, too was granted bail.

Opposing the bail pleas, Special Public Prosecutor Shishir Hiray for the Mumbai Police argued that an international drug racket was involved and the accused were in connivance with the sellers.

Justice Chandak refused to accept the police’s claim that the applicants were the main organisers of the event. It noted that as per the investigating agency’s own contention in Samal’s bail plea, NESCO and he were 50-50 partners for the event, permissions for which were granted by the public authorities “without raising any doubt”.

“Therefore, although, the statements of the witnesses show that both the Applicants were present at the event and keeping watch there, it cannot be held that they were directly or indirectly connected with the co-accused, the alleged drug peddlers,” the HC observed.

The judge also observed that none of the witnesses, including security guards, who claimed to have informed the applicants about ecstasy pills given to attendees, attempted to alert the police officers present at the entrance.

“There is no sufficient material to prima facie conclude that the Applicants have conspired with and abetted the alleged drug peddlers to allow them free entry at the event for the purpose of selling the contraband,” the HC held, adding that “their detention in jail is not required” and that “the trial will take a considerable time to conclude”.