Mumbai: In a major breakthrough in the drug case linked to the deaths of two youths at a concert in NESCO Centre, police have arrested the main accused from Poladpur in Raigad district while he was allegedly attempting to flee towards Goa.

According to officials, the accused is suspected of distributing Ecstasy (MDMA) at the concert held on April 11, where two attendees died due to suspected drug overdose. He was intercepted and later handed over to the Vanrai Police for further investigation.

The arrest comes amid an ongoing crackdown on a suspected drug supply network operating around high-profile music events in Mumbai. A video released by Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) showed the accused being escorted by police personnel following his detention.

Earlier, the Vanrai Police had arrested 21-year-old MBA student Shubh Agarwal from Kalyan, marking the eighth arrest in the case. Agarwal was produced before the Borivali Metropolitan Magistrate Court, which remanded him to police custody till April 20.

The case was registered after the deaths of Shreya Rai (24) and Bismaad Bhasin (28), both of whom are suspected to have consumed a lethal combination of drugs and alcohol. Another attendee, Seetal Salvi (25), remains under treatment at Bombay Hospital.

Cops have also flagged multiple violations at the event, including the concert allegedly continuing beyond the permitted time of 10 pm till around 12:30 am. Additionally, alcohol was reportedly served to individuals below the legal age of 25.

Police said several of the accused were regular attendees at events held at the NESCO Centre, indicating the possible existence of a broader drug distribution network targeting such gatherings.

So far, nine accused have been arrested in the case. Seven of them are scheduled to be produced in court today as the investigation continues.

Mumbai: The Bombay High Court on Friday sought the state government’s stand on the shifting position taken by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) regarding land required for the expansion of a sewage treatment plant (STP) at Worli.

A bench of Justices MS Karnik and SM Modak directed the BMC to make a formal representation to the state government by April 20, seeking modification of the land requirement from 17,750 sq m to 27,700 sq m. The court said the state must place its response on record by April 27, the next date of hearing.

During the hearing, the court observed that public interest would outweigh competing claims and emphasised the need for clarity on the state’s position at the earliest.

“Once the state informs its decision, we will consider the matter. If the state says whatever has been done is correct, then nothing further remains,” the bench noted.

The issue pertains to a land parcel off Dr E Moses Road, originally reserved for the STP. While around 27,700 sq m was initially earmarked, the requirement was reduced to about 17,750 sq m in June 2024. The BMC has now proposed reverting to the original larger area, citing increased demand for sewage processing.

The court was hearing a petition filed by Worli Urban Development Project LLP (formerly Lokhandwala DB Realty LLP), which is redeveloping slum societies on the site.

The developer had approached the court following stop-work notices issued by the Slum Rehabilitation Authority over alleged unauthorised construction of transit camps.

BMC counsel informed the court that the revised proposal would be placed before the state shortly. Senior advocate Aspi Chinoy, appearing for the developer, alleged mala fides in the civic body’s changing stance, claiming delays were causing financial losses.

Mumbai: A newly constructed skywalk connecting Bandra Railway Station (East) to the Bandra–Kurla Complex (BKC) is already facing encroachment and maintenance issues, raising concerns over the sustainability of public infrastructure in the city.

The 680-metre-long skywalk, inaugurated on Republic Day earlier this year, was designed to streamline pedestrian movement between key locations, including Bandra Court, MHADA offices, and the District Collector’s Office. However, within months of its opening, and even within 48 hours, as earlier reported, the facility has begun showing signs of neglect.

Photos shared by local social media platform BandraBuzz show hawkers occupying sections of the pedestrian-only skywalk, highlighting a recurring problem seen across several skywalks in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region. The post warned that if immediate action is not taken, the situation could escalate, making the structure unsafe and unusable for commuters.

In addition to encroachments, the social media page flagged maintenance lapses. An escalator installed at the BKC end of the skywalk is reportedly non-functional, forcing daily commuters to use stairs, undermining accessibility, especially for senior citizens and persons with disabilities.

The page also reported changes in last-mile connectivity. Shared auto-rickshaws, which earlier dropped passengers closer to the station, are now reportedly halting near the skywalk and charging higher fares, adding to commuter inconvenience.

The issue of hawker encroachment had been raised earlier by activist Zoru Bhathena soon after the skywalk’s inauguration. Sharing images of a vendor selling sunglasses on the structure, he had highlighted how quickly the pedestrian facility was being compromised. His post, captioned “First Day First Hawkers,” had sparked widespread reactions online.

The skywalk, equipped with four staircases, two escalators, and 14 CCTV cameras, was envisioned as a modern solution to ease congestion in one of Mumbai’s busiest commercial and judicial hubs. It was inaugurated by Maharashtra minister Ashish Shelar after nearly five years of construction delays. Despite these features, the early onset of encroachment and maintenance failures has raised serious questions about enforcement and upkeep.