Host Notes

Killer: Neeraj Sharma (S1) — former Lt. Colonel, election candidate, Rohtak-Central.

Motive: KC Kapoor had been running an extortion operation against Neeraj for 18 months, holding electoral fraud evidence (ghost voter registrations across 3 constituencies, 23,412 flagged entries). When Kapoor escalated the demand to ₹3 crore on election eve, with a 06:00 deadline and a journalist lined up to receive the files if unpaid, Neeraj attended the 9 PM meeting and killed him instead.

Method: Neeraj brought a suppressed weapon (not recovered). Used Kapoor's registered Glock as a prop — placed it in Kapoor's right hand to create a suicide staging. Forensic evidence: GSR on Kapoor's dorsal hand (secondary transfer, not firing residue); no GSR on palm/trigger finger; cartridge case micro-scoring inconsistent with Kapoor's non-threaded Glock barrel. Neeraj is qualified in suppressed weapons systems (SWTS Belgaum, Module SW-11, 2002).

Window: Neeraj's Campaign Committee Innova entered 14 Tughlak Lane at 20:56 and exited at 22:02 (CCTV, E05). The housekeeper was absent from ~21:50 to ~22:20 (E09 + CDR corroboration E04). TOD range 21:30–23:00 (E01).

Cover: War Room sign-in at 22:52 — only 50 minutes after leaving the scene. Driver log (E07) confirms the Campaign Committee car returned to the War Room compound at 22:56. The 36-minute gap between departure from Tughlak Lane and arrival at War Room (for an 8–14 minute drive) is unexplained.

The scene examination rules out suicide. Key points: muzzle-to-skin range (85–120 cm) is inconsistent with self-infliction. GSR positive on Kapoor's right dorsal hand but absent from palm and trigger finger. Cartridge case micro-scoring on case neck is inconsistent with Kapoor's registered Glock (non-threaded barrel). A different weapon was used. The scene was staged.

Five active client files. Players must read the handwritten notes clipped inside each folder. Key facts: NS file shows ₹1.13 Cr paid to date, balance ₹3 Cr demanded, meeting confirmed 21:00 April 14. VS and PM files are marked "settled." AK file shows a delivery deadline of 06:00 April 15. DN file shows an equity dispute and a call at 21:30.

Players who read E03 carefully know exactly who had an unresolved, high-stakes confrontation with Kapoor that night — and who did not.

E05 (CCTV): The Campaign Committee Innova (DL-1C-** PA) enters at 20:56, exits at 22:02. MVD confirms DL-1C-AF-2241 is registered to the NS2025 Campaign Committee. E07 (War Room Register): Neeraj signs in at 22:52. Driver log entry confirms: "Col. NS — TL pickup 20:50 approx. Return War Room." The 50-minute gap (22:02 departure → 22:52 arrival) for an 8–14 minute drive is the first factual gap players must account for.

18 years of army service. Specialist module SW-11 at SWTS Belgaum (2002): "Suppressed weapons systems — theory and operational deployment." Certified firearms instructor. This is the link between the cartridge case anomaly in E01 and a specific person in the suspect list. Both pieces of evidence are released — one in Pack A, one in Pack B — to prevent early closure.

E08 (EC Anomaly Report): 23,412 flagged electoral entries across three Haryana constituencies, 84.8% added during the registration window. No names in the EC report — players must connect the constituency (Rohtak-Central) to Neeraj (E06: birthplace Rohtak; candidate for Rohtak-Central). Vault A (Private Ledger): confirms the payment schedule and the ultimatum. Players who open Vault A late (after identifying Neeraj) find their answer confirmed in Kapoor's own handwriting.

IB intercept from April 13 — the night before the murder. Neeraj refuses the ₹3 crore demand. Kapoor says "Goodnight, Colonel." This is the most direct evidence of motive and establishes the specific precipitating event. It also places the decision to act in the 23 hours before the killing. Groups that unlock Vault B typically treat it as confirmation of a conclusion already reached, not the starting point.