Two MBA students from a reputed South Mumbai college died after a suspected MDMA overdose at a techno concert in Goregaon on April 11, 2026. Five people have been arrested, including fellow students and event organisers, as police probe drug supply networks and venue safety failures.
Two MBA Students Die After Suspected Drug Overdose at Mumbai Concert
Incident Occurred During Late-Night Techno Event at NESCO
The tragedy unfolded at the NESCO Exhibition Centre in Goregaon East during a performance by Italian hard techno duo 999999999 (known as 9×9), part of their India ‘Acid Storm’ tour. The event was attended by an estimated 3,000 to 4,000 people.
Victims Were Management Students Who Attended With a Group of Classmates
The deceased have been identified as a 24-year-old woman and a 28-year-old man, both MBA students at a prestigious management college in South Mumbai. They were part of a group of approximately 25 classmates at the event. A third student, a 25-year-old woman from the same group, remains critical and hospitalised.
MDMA Consumption Suspected Behind Fatal Overdose
Students Allegedly Consumed Yellow Ecstasy Pills During the Event
According to police and survivor accounts, a yellow pill suspected to be MDMA was circulated among the group during the concert. A surviving student told investigators she was handed the pill by a classmate and that others in the group consumed similar substances.
Timeline: From Symptoms to Death
Around 12:30 AM, several students began experiencing breathlessness, dizziness, and severe cramps. The two women were rushed to Trauma Care Hospital in Jogeshwari East. The male student was taken to Life Line Hospital in Goregaon West, where he was declared dead on April 13. One of the women later succumbed at a private hospital.
Five Arrested: Fellow Students and Event Organisers Held
Students Accused of Supplying the Ecstasy Tablets
Two MBA students from the same college were arrested after friends of the victims identified them as the source of the MDMA pills. The Vanrai Police, which is leading the investigation, confirmed the arrests following preliminary findings.
Organisers Booked for Negligence and Safety Violations
Three individuals linked to the event’s organisation have also been arrested, including event organiser Vihaan alias Akash Samal (31), Sunny Vinod Jain from NESCO Event Organisation and Management, and Balakrishnan Balaram, a member of the internal security team. All five accused were remanded to three days of police custody. NESCO stated it is cooperating fully with investigators.
FIR Filed Under Culpable Homicide and NDPS Act
Police registered a case at Vanrai Police Station under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita covering culpable homicide and criminal negligence, along with sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The investigation is examining both the drug supply chain and whether event management teams failed in their duty of care. Forensic and medical reports are awaited to formally confirm the cause of death.
Security Lapses at Venue Under Scrutiny
With 3,000 to 4,000 attendees present, questions are mounting over crowd screening, drug detection measures, and the absence of adequate security and medical response infrastructure. Authorities have flagged the apparent ease with which prohibited substances were distributed inside a major commercial venue. The incident has prompted a wider national conversation about regulating large-scale music events in India, enforcement of safety norms, and the growing prevalence of MDMA use in urban youth circles.
What Happens Next in the Investigation?
Police are continuing to probe the drug supply chain to determine how the MDMA entered the venue and whether additional suppliers remain at large. Further arrests have not been ruled out. Authorities are also examining the broader accountability of event management companies for the safety of attendees.