Purpose of This Document
This summary integrates evidence collected across all three rounds of investigation. It is prepared for internal case review and does not constitute a charge sheet. The investigating officer's reconstruction of events is presented in chronological order with source references. Open questions are noted where evidence remains incomplete.
RECONSTRUCTED TIMELINE — 13–14 FEBRUARY 2025
13 Feb · 16:31
An unidentified male enters Building 2 ground floor corridor and accesses the on-set Medical Room. A unit of Midazolam 15mg oral solution is signed out under the name "N. Kumar." The attending medic was not present; the sign-out was self-administered to the register.
Sources: E07 (Medical Kit Log), E23 (Camera 6 footage)
14 Feb · 12:41
Sameer Rane sends a WhatsApp message to Arjun Malhotra from his personal device confirming the meeting at Trailer 7 at approximately 20:00 "before the party starts." The NK Film Projects number had earlier been used to arrange the same meeting.
Sources: E05 (CDR), E16 (Subscriber), E21 (Recovered messages)
14 Feb · 17:30
Final scene wraps. Nandini Kapoor hangs her production jacket — with badge NK-DIR-0089 attached — at the Editing Suite entrance and changes clothing. She does not retrieve the jacket again until after 20:50.
Sources: E11 (Badge Analysis), E15 (Witness Statements)
14 Feb · 19:47
Last badge scan for SR-PROD-0042 (Rane) at the Main Production Office. He does not scan again on any campus reader until 20:38. His stated account — driving to the Aarey perimeter for "fresh air" — is unverified by any witness or camera.
Sources: E04 (Badge Log), E14 (Car Park Log), E15 (Rane statement)
14 Feb · 19:51
Vehicle MH-04-ER-7823 (Rane's Toyota Camry) exits via Gate 2 South. Security officer records Rane's comment: "Back in 30." The vehicle is absent from the lot for 49 minutes. The gate-to-Block C walking distance is approximately 3–5 minutes.
Sources: E14 (Vehicle Log)
14 Feb · ~20:00
Arjun Malhotra is in Trailer 7. His planner records the meeting as "NK confirmed 8 PM, T7." His last call activity is at 20:04:55. The whisky glass and passive phone registration pings indicate he was alive and in the trailer at approximately 20:05.
Sources: E05 (CDR), Vault A (Planner)
14 Feb · 20:07
Badge NK-DIR-0089 scans at R-TRLC-01 (Trailer Block C entrance) at 20:07:41. Camera 11 records a figure in Nandini Kapoor's blue jacket entering at 20:07:43. FSL height analysis places the figure at 175–181 cm — incompatible with Kapoor (161 cm), consistent with Rane (177 cm).
Sources: E03 (CCTV), E04 (Badge Log), E11 (Badge Analysis), E12 (Gait Analysis)
14 Feb · 20:07–20:44
Arjun Malhotra is killed inside Trailer 7. TOD established as 20:10–20:40 (E01). Cause of death: ligature strangulation, following sedation with Midazolam administered in his whisky (E02). No defensive injuries — consistent with incapacitation before the fatal act.
Sources: E01 (Autopsy), E02 (Toxicology)
14 Feb · 20:38–20:42
Rane's vehicle re-enters at Gate 2 at 20:40. His badge scans at Parking Level 1 stairwell at 20:38:29, then at Main Production Office at 20:41:58. He is in the Production Office when Aarav Singh reports the body at 20:47.
Sources: E04 (Badge Log), E14 (Vehicle Log)
14 Feb · 20:47
Production assistant Aarav Singh finds Arjun Malhotra unresponsive in Trailer 7 and calls security. Film City Studios is sealed at 20:52.
Sources: E03 (CCTV), Case Brief
14 Feb · 20:58
Sameer Rane's iPhone authenticates via Face ID and deletes the WhatsApp thread with Arjun Malhotra — 11 minutes after the body is reported.
Sources: E21 (Recovered Messages)
OPEN QUESTIONS AT TIME OF THIS SUMMARY
1. The jacket worn by the Block C figure: Nandini Kapoor's jacket was recovered in the Editing Suite with the badge still attached. If the killer borrowed the jacket, how was it returned without Kapoor noticing? The Editing Suite entrance hook is unmonitored.
2. "N. Kumar" — the name on the medical kit sign-out: Sameer Rane's middle name is Narayan. Initials: S.N. Rane. The "N. Kumar" signature does not match standard ID. Camera evidence is indicative but not conclusive for facial identification. Handwriting comparison request is outstanding with FSL.
3. The four deleted WhatsApp messages (13 Feb, between 17:45 and 18:02 entries) have not been recovered. Their content is unknown. Whether they contain additional evidence of planning is unresolved.
Investigating Officer's Assessment
Evidence collected across all three investigation rounds is internally consistent and cross-corroborated. The financial irregularity, the pre-arranged meeting, the recovered communications, the badge and vehicle movements, the forensic physical evidence, and the post-event deletion event all fall within a coherent sequence attributed to a single individual. The open questions noted above are outstanding forensic matters rather than conflicts in the existing record. Case file is proceeding toward submission for charge approval. Identity of subject under active review — formal nomination withheld pending FSL completion.