Teen dies after drinking beer spiked with drug

An 18-year-old boy died on Wednesday after his friend made him drink a beer laced with narcotic powder.

An 18-year-old boy died on Wednesday after his friend made him drink a beer laced with narcotic powder.

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The friend, now in police custody, claims that he was not aware that this would lead to death. The police are investigating whether it was a deliberate attempt due to any enmity between the two.

The deceased has been identified as Ajay Prakash Singh. The arrested person has been indentified as Rakesh Rajendra Singh, 20, a labourer and resident of Bunder Road in Colaba.

According to the police, on February 9, around 1am, the duo had gone to Kamathipura, where they drank beer.

“Although Ajay drinks alcohol, he had never consumed drugs. However, Rakesh persuaded him to try a cocktail and then gave him a beer laced with drug powder,” said senior police inspector Rajendra Chavan of the VP Road police station.

A few minutes later, Ajay became unconscious and was rushed to the hospital, where he was declared dead before admission, he added.

“Ajay, who had never consumed drugs, could not bear the effect of the drink laced with drugs. Rakesh has been booked under section 304 of the Indian Penal Code (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) as he knew that Ajay did not consume drugs, despite which, he provided him with narcotics,” Chavan said. “We are awaiting the post mortem report. We are also investigating the source of drugs as well as the possibility of foul play in the incident,” said Vilas Joshi, police inspector, VP Road police station.