To,
The Board of Directors,
SR Productions Private Limited,
and
Limelight Entertainment Private Limited (Co-Producer),
Mumbai.
Re: Formal Complaint — Misappropriation of Production Funds · Project "Zara Ruk" (Prod. No. SR-2024-061)
We write on behalf of our client, Mr. Arjun Malhotra, Lead Actor and contracted talent under Agreement dated 15 October 2024 with SR Productions Pvt. Ltd.
1. Background. Our client has become aware of a series of fund transfers from the production's petty cash account (budget code ZR-MISC-OPEX) totalling ₹12,67,000 (Rupees Twelve Lakhs Sixty-Seven Thousand Only), made between 09 January 2025 and 12 February 2025, to a vendor identified as "NK Film Projects." These payments were authorised exclusively by Mr. Sameer Rane (Co-Producer, SR Productions) and are not supported by any invoice, goods receipt, or executed service contract.
2. NK Film Projects LLP. Our searches reveal that NK Film Projects LLP (LLPIN: AAP-8831) was incorporated on 03 January 2025 — one week before the first payment was made. The entity's registered office is care of SR Associates, a proprietary firm controlled by Mr. Rane's father. Mr. Sameer Rane is a Designated Partner of NK Film Projects LLP. The entity has no GST registration traceable on the public portal as of this date.
3. Allegation. Our client avers that Mr. Rane has systematically extracted production funds through a sham vendor arrangement in which he, through his family's business infrastructure, is both the authorising official and the ultimate beneficiary of the payments. This constitutes, on its face, a breach of fiduciary duty, a misrepresentation to the production company's accounts function, and potentially an offence under the Indian Penal Code.
4. Demand. Our client demands: (a) a full forensic audit of all ZR-MISC-OPEX disbursements; (b) the immediate suspension of Mr. Rane from any role with authority over production finances; (c) recovery of ₹12,67,000 from Mr. Rane personally; and (d) a written response within seven (7) days of receipt of this letter.
5. Filing Intention. In the event of no satisfactory response within the stipulated period, our client instructs us to file a formal complaint with the Economic Offences Wing, Mumbai Police, and to initiate civil proceedings for recovery.
This letter is marked as a Draft for client review and approval. Upon client sign-off, it is to be dispatched by courier on Monday, 17 February 2025.
Yours faithfully,
Rohit Mehra
Advs. Rohit Mehra & Co.
This draft was prepared on 12 February 2025 — two days before Arjun Malhotra's death. It was never sent. Arjun Malhotra's manager confirms that Malhotra had been in contact with Adv. Mehra and had tentatively approved dispatch on 17 February, pending one final conversation with Sameer Rane at the wrap party. The letter was recovered from the law firm's client file server on 16 February 2025. Adv. Mehra confirmed its authenticity and that Malhotra had asked him to hold dispatch until "Monday after wrap."