Mumbai: The special Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) court has rejected the bail pleas of NESCO staff and MBA students in the drug overdose deaths case. In its detailed order, the court observed that “greed for money turned a place of amusement into a graveyard for two persons”.

The court on Thursday refused bail to Raunak Khandelwal, a final-year MBA student, and Pratik Pandey, a second-year MBA student. Additionally, the court denied relief to Sunny Jain, a senior manager, and Balkrishnan Kurup, business head and vice president of live events and IP at NESCO.

The case pertains to an incident on April 11, where two MBA students died and several others were hospitalised following a suspected MDMA (ecstasy) overdose at a techno music concert held at NESCO Goregaon.

The court noted that the organiser allowed attendees to consume liquor despite being directed to ensure no narcotic drugs or alcohol were permitted at the event. The court described the incident as an example of poor management.

“It may be intentional, negligent and/or an act done under the greed of money. However, such an act has turned into a tragedy, ultimately the place of amusement becoming the graveyard of two persons. Thus, the organisers are primafacie responsible for negligence and mishap occurred in the event,” the court said.

Regarding the students, the court observed they are accused of bringing and distributing contraband among college friends. In the case of Khandelwal, the court stated that the supply of a yellow ecstasy tablet to a victim was sufficient to infer involvement in the crime, regardless of the specific weight found on his person. The court noted that investigators recovered 435gm of MDMA from Ayush Sahitya, making it hasty to categorise the recovery as a small quantity.

While denying bail to Pandey, the court remarked that the applicant tried to encash the chaotic conditions caused by mismanagement to sell contraband. The court further noted the submission of the prosecution that if released, the applicant might dissuade friends from disclosing facts to the investigating officer.

Mumbai: The city woke up to clear skies and hot weather, with the early-morning temperature recorded at 31°C at 9 am. This high temperature comes as hot and humid conditions are expected to continue in Mumbai and surrounding areas today.

According to the Regional Meteorological Centre, a yellow alert for hot and humid conditions has been issued for Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Raigad till May 10. According to an AccuWeather report, the maximum temperature in the city is expected to soar to 38°C.

Thane and Navi Mumbai also recorded hot weather in the morning, with temperatures recorded at 31°C. Not just this, residents of Thane are expected to witness severe heat conditions, as maximum temperatures are likely to soar up to 40°C, according to AccuWeather. The maximum temperature in Navi Mumbai is also expected to reach 37°C.

As high temperatures are expected today in Mumbai and MMR regions, citizens should take precautions by drinking plenty of water and avoiding alcohol and caffeinated drinks, as they can cause dehydration. Instead, opt for coconut water, buttermilk, or electrolyte drinks to stay hydrated. Try not to step outside between 12 pm and 4 pm, when the heat is strongest. If you need to go out, use sunscreen or wear a hat for protection. Opt for light-coloured, loose-fitting clothes and eat fresh fruits, salads, and light meals instead of heavy, oily, or spicy foods.

The overall air quality in Mumbai was recorded in the ‘good’ category, with an AQI of 50. The best AQI was recorded at Green Hills at 5, and Sion recorded the worst air quality with an AQI of 127.

Not just this, several areas recorded moderate AQI, Sarvodaya Nagar Station 1 (100), Om Siddhivinayak Society (97), Sindi Society (78), Mirashi Nagar (77), Shivaji Nagar (72), Govandi West (68), Hiranandani Gardens Station 2 (65), Mhada Colony (60), Kurla (58), Raheja Vihar (58), Bhandup West (55), Borivali West (55), Mithchowki (55), Bandra East (53), Mulund West (53), Saki Naka (53).

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday directed the state government to set up a high-level expert committee within four weeks to conduct a performance audit of the Slum Areas (Improvement, Clearance and Redevelopment) Act, 1971, observing that the dream of a “slum-free Mumbai” remains far from reality even after more than five decades.

The committee has been asked to submit its report within 10 months. The bench remarked that improving Mumbai’s planning and housing situation would require political will and executive commitment.

A special bench of Justices Girish Kulkarni and Advait Sethna said slum rehab projects should not come “at the expense of open spaces” and called for a scientific, areawise approach to redevelopment. The special bench was constituted to hear the suo motu plea regarding a review of the Slum Act following a Supreme Court judgment on July 30, 2024. The apex court had earlier highlighted concerns about the Act’s implementation and asked the HC to conduct a ‘performance audit.’

In a strongly-worded 264- page judgment, the bench said, “The official machinery… has failed to eradicate the slums to fulfil the dream of 1971 to convert the city into a slum-free city.”

The judges noted that large parts of Mumbai continue to remain under slums, raising serious questions about urban planning. “The problems which are discussed certainly reflect an abysmal progress of the ideals of town planning expected of an international city like Mumbai. Any town planning which does not sail with the time is questionable,” the court said.

The court also recommended a complete freeze on cut-off dates for recognising slum dwellers, saying no further extensions should be granted. According to the bench, people migrating to cities should secure housing either through public housing schemes or the open market, and illegal encroachments should not be incentivised through free rehabilitation housing.

The judgment also flagged the condition of slums around the international airport, saying such areas project Mumbai as a “city of slums” to domestic and international travellers. The bench said there was an urgent need to relocate slums situated near vital installations and in areas where redevelopment is not feasible due to restrictions.

Raising concerns over the quality of rehabilitation buildings, the court warned against the creation of “vertical slums”, criticising the role of inexperienced “by-night developers” in slum projects. Quoting the iconic song from movie ‘CID’, the judges observed: “Aye dil hai mushkil jeena yahan, zara hatke zara bachke, yeh hai Bombay meri jaan.”