MUMBAI: Days after the suspected drug-related deaths of two MBA students, Mumbai Police denied permission for an international underground music event scheduled at Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) on Sunday, citing law and order and crowd management concerns.
The event, billed as the India debut of the Ibiza-based Circoloco rave, was expected to draw over 4,000 attendees. However, it was called off just hours before it was set to begin after BKC police refused clearance.
The move follows a recent incident in Goregaon (East), where two students allegedly died after consuming ecstasy pills at a live music event, triggering heightened scrutiny of concerts and nightlife venues across the city.
In response, police have announced the formation of three types of special squads—anti-drug, anti-harassment, and anti-theft—to monitor events across the western suburbs, including Bandra, Oshiwara, Andheri, Powai, Sahar, and BKC.
The directive, issued on April 14 by Additional Commissioner of Police (West Region) Paramjit Singh Dahiya, instructs officers from 21 police stations to deploy these squads at concerts featuring both Indian and international performers.
For events with up to 2,000 attendees, each squad will comprise two teams, with one officer and four constables per team. For larger crowds, deployment will scale up—for instance, four teams per squad for gatherings of 4,000 people and six teams for 6,000 attendees.
Police have been directed to ensure minimal inconvenience to attendees while maintaining vigilance. Personnel are expected to monitor suspicious activity closely and take legal action when required, while maintaining a professional and courteous approach.
The circular also mandates that organisers bear the cost of deploying police squads and additional security personnel, with fees to be collected in advance as per official guidelines and properly recorded.
Senior inspectors have been tasked with strict enforcement of these measures, ensuring adequate deployment at every permitted event. Officials added that plainclothes officers are already stationed at such gatherings, and organisers are typically provided with a list of compliance requirements before approvals are granted.
The latest measures signal a tighter regulatory approach to large-scale music events in Mumbai, particularly in the wake of recent drug-related fatalities.
