LIGHTS OUT IN MUMBAI

Case #002

ANSWERS FILE

⚠️ SPOILER WARNING ⚠️

Only read if you have completed the objective

or need to verify your answer!

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OBJECTIVE 1 - ANSWER

DISCOVER THE SECRET GUEST VISITOR

RAJAN S. THAKUR

HOW TO SOLVE:

In the email from Vikram to Sameer, the first letter of each sentence is underlined. Reading these letters in order spells out the secret visitor's name:

Really need your advice...

A potential new client...

Just between us...

Actually, he insists...

Nothing is documented...

The money involved...

However, I can't shake...

And honestly...

Know that I trust you...

Usually I can handle...

Remember our code...

The underlined first letters spell: RAJAN THAKUR

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OBJECTIVE 2 - ANSWER

WHO CLEARLY FABRICATED THEIR ALIBI?

RISHABH ARORA

HOW TO SOLVE:

Sameer claimed he was in Lonavala for a film location recce on the night of October 15, 2023. His hotel invoice confirms he stayed at Farivale Resort, Lonavala from October 13-16.

While Rishabh claimed to have been at home with his girlfriend Tanya Malhotra, the Mumbai Mirror newspaper dated October 17, 2023 contains an article about the Navratri Dandiya event at Taj Lands End, Bandra on October 15, 2023.

The article mentions: "Tanya Malhotra, a well-known TV actress and girlfriend of associate film producer Rishabh Arora, emerged triumphant in the early evening..."

This proves that Tanya Malhotra was at Taj Lands End in Mumbai on the night of October 15, and not with Rishabh at his home.

While Rishabh may have been at home, his girlfriend definitely was NOT with him - proving he lied about at least part of his alibi.

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OBJECTIVE 3 - ANSWER

WHAT DOES HE KNOW ABOUT & WHO WAS HE MEETING?

VIKRAM KNEW ABOUT THE AFFAIR between Madhuri and Rajan He was meeting RAJAN S. THAKUR (to collect blackmail money)

HOW TO SOLVE:

1. The Love Letter found at the Khanna property, signed "S" and addressed to "My Dearest M" - this is from Rajan to Madhuri. “S” is Rajan’s middle name initial. The letter also mentions their “weekend in Goa”, and not Lonavala, which proves that “S’ is Rajan S. Thakur, not Sameer Verma.

2. Phone Records show frequent calls between Vikram and Rajan (98222-33333). Vikram was calling Rajan almost every day - this matches what Vikram said in his first email to Sameer about staying in constant touch with the "secret visitor".

3. The Safe Password Puzzle from the unsent email, the riddle reveals the safe code is 3134. Madhuri claimed the safe code was 1411 (their anniversary) - but Vikram changed it to 3134!

4. The Blackmail: Vikram discovered the affair and was blackmailing Rajan. The money in the safe was blackmail payments. Rajan was visiting as a "potential client" but was actually paying Vikram to keep quiet.

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OBJECTIVE 4 - ANSWER

WHO KILLED VIKRAM AND STOLE THE MONEY?

THE KILLER: RAJAN S. THAKUR WORKING WITH: MADHURI KHANNA

THE 3 KEY PIECES OF EVIDENCE:

EVIDENCE 1 - THE BURNER PHONE SMS:

A text was found on Rajan's burner phone from 64434-98322 at 8:30 PM on October 15:

"Tonight's the night... See you soon, my warrior!"

Cross-referencing with the phone records: 64434-98322 is MADHURI's phone number!

"My warrior" refers to Rajan's military nickname - "The Warrior" (from his Bhavani Talwar tattoo).

EVIDENCE 2 - RAJAN'S SLIP-UP IN INTERROGATION:

During his interrogation, Rajan said:

"It's dangerous to keep cash in your home safe these days."

BUT WAIT - Inspector Patil never mentioned there was a safe, let alone that it contained cash! Only someone who had been to the crime scene would know about the safe.

EVIDENCE 3 - RAJAN'S MILITARY RECORD:

Rajan's military record shows he was a Combat Medic (Regimental Medical Assistant) in the Indian Army.

This explains the attempted first aid found at the crime scene - the cloth pressed against the wound and CPR compressions. Rajan's medical training kicked in after he stabbed Vikram, and he instinctively tried to save him.

Read the next two pages for the complete solution.

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THE COMPLETE SOLUTION

WHAT REALLY HAPPENED:

THE AFFAIR: Madhuri Khanna had been having a secret affair with Rajan S. Thakur. They met years ago when Rajan was working as a stuntman in Bollywood. The love letter found at the property proves their relationship, with references to their "weekend in Goa."

THE DISCOVERY: Vikram hired a private investigator and discovered the affair. Instead of confronting them or filing for divorce, Vikram saw an opportunity. Because of the prenup (mentioned by Kavya), Madhuri would get nothing in a divorce.

THE BLACKMAIL: Vikram began blackmailing Rajan, demanding money to keep quiet about the affair and threatening to destroy Rajan's fledgling acting career. Rajan became the "secret visitor" coming to Vikram's house regularly - not as a potential client, but to make blackmail payments. Vikram stored this money in his hidden safe (behind the M.F. Husain painting) and changed the combination from 1411 to 3134 so Madhuri couldn't access it.

THE CONSPIRACY: Madhuri and Rajan decided the only way out was to kill Vikram. They planned the murder for October 15, when Madhuri could establish an alibi of being in Lonavala.

THE MURDER (October 15, 2023):

• 7:00 PM - Madhuri is on her way back from Lonavala

• 8:20 PM - Madhuri calls Vikram (last call before murder, per phone records)

• 8:30 PM - Madhuri texts Rajan: "This is the night... I’ll see you shortly, my warrior!"

• ~9:00 PM - Rajan enters through servant's entrance (forced entry), confronts Vikram

• Struggle ensues, Rajan stabs Vikram with the antique Rajasthani dagger

• Rajan's combat medic instincts kick in - he attempts first aid

• Rajan forces Vikram to open the safe, empties it, and flees

• 9:30 PM - Madhuri "discovers" the body and calls police

THE RED HERRING: Rishabh Arora was running his own separate blackmail scheme. He had learned about Rajan and Madhuri’s affair gossip doing the rounds in the industry through Kavya (whom he used to date) and hatched a plan with her to blackmail Rajan. He first paid her an initial sum from the company's balance, corroborating on the company's money being missing, and promised to pay the rest after extorting money from Rajan. That is also why Kavya’s diary entry had conflicting information about being broke initially and then being able to buy a new car. Rishabh sent a threatening SMS demanding 30 lakhs. His fake alibi (claiming to be home with his girlfriend while his girlfriend was out for an event in Mumbai) makes him look suspicious, but he is NOT the killer.

CASE CLOSED

Congratulations, Detective!

You have solved LIGHTS OUT IN MUMBAI.

— END OF ANSWERS FILE —

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