Witness Details
| Field | Details |
|---|
| Full Name | Lata Srinivasan Krishnan |
| Age | 52 years |
| Occupation | Senior Office Administrator, Desai & Associates — 18 years of service |
| Address | Flat 3, Ganesh Niwas, Model Colony, Pune 411 016 |
| Relationship to deceased | Professional — long-serving staff member under Vikram Desai |
Statement — As Recorded
"I have worked for Mr. Desai for eighteen years. He trusted me with everything administrative. I knew his schedule, his habits. He always stayed late when there was a client matter pending.
On the 6th, I left the office at around ten past eight in the evening. I took the lift down and went home on my scooter. Normally that would be the end of it, but I realised once I reached the car park that I had left my phone charger at my desk. It was an Apple charger — not easy to replace, and I had an early morning the next day. So I came back.
I went back up around ten to nine — I think it was about 8:50, maybe quarter to nine. I went to my office, Room 1406, got the charger and left. While I was there — maybe two or three minutes — I walked past Reena's office, Room 1402. The light was on under the door. I know that office well. I thought she was still working. That is not unusual for her. I did not knock.
I did not go to Mr. Desai's office. I did not see or hear anything unusual from that side of the corridor. I took the lift back down and left.
When I heard what happened, I told the police about the light in Reena's office because it seemed important. I do not know whether she was actually inside. Only that the light was on."
Key Detail — Light Under Office Door
Time of observation: approximately 20:50
Lata Krishnan observed the light on under Reena Mehrotra's office door (Room 1402) at approximately 20:50 on 6 March 2025. This is within the established Time of Death window (20:30–21:10 per E01) — and 50 minutes after Reena told police she left "at approximately 20:00." Lata's keycard confirms her brief return visit to the floor at this time (E02 — entry 20:49:xx, exit 20:53:xx).
Alibi Assessment
Lata Krishnan — CLEARED: Keycard log (E02) confirms initial exit at 20:08 and brief return 20:49–20:53. She was not on the floor during the full murder window — only during a 4-minute window at the beginning of it when Vikram was still alive. CCTV corroborates. Her testimony independently places Reena Mehrotra in the building at 20:50 — directly contradicting Reena's statement (E11).
Lata Srinivasan Krishnan
Witness — Signature
PI Sunil Deshpande — PPD/SNJR/0671
Recording Officer
Date: 7 March 2025
Time: 12:22 PM