In connection with the drugs case registered at the NESCO Centre in Goregaon, accused Jiya Rachel Pradeep Jacob was produced before the Borivali court on Monday afternoon after the expiry of her police custody. The court extended her police custody till Thursday, April 30.
According to police, investigations have revealed that Jiya played a significant role in the financial transactions linked to the drug racket. Officials claimed that several shocking revelations have emerged during her interrogation.
Police said Jiya had been in contact with the main accused in the case, Mark alias Mahesh Hira Khemalani, since 2012. Investigators further found that the two were living together in a live-in relationship.
Following the Goregaon NESCO drugs bust, Vanrai police had registered an FIR and so far arrested ten persons in the case. During interrogation of the arrested accused, Jiya Jacob’s involvement came to light.
Jiya, who is an artist and resident of Mira Road, was detained for questioning on April 22. During interrogation, police allegedly found links between her and several accused persons. Her direct involvement in the financial dealings of the drug syndicate was also uncovered, following which she was formally arrested.
She was earlier remanded to police custody till April 27. As the custody period ended on Monday, she was again produced before the Borivali court under police security, where her custody was further extended.
Police said investigations so far indicate that Jiya was closely associated with Mahesh Khemalani, the prime accused in the conspiracy. They were reportedly known to each other for years and had been living together for the past four years.
Investigators suspect that Jiya was aware of Mahesh’s alleged involvement in the drug trade. Police further stated that bank accounts of co-accused Anand Patel, Vinit Gerelani, Vinit Agrawal and Ayush Sahitya were allegedly being used by Jiya and Mahesh.
Officials said a total cash deposit of Rs 14,95,400 had been made through these accounts. Police are now probing the source of the money and the business activities through which it was generated.