A brazen data theft has shaken Mumbai's entertainment industry after 66 high-capacity hard disks containing sensitive and potentially unreleased film and web series content went missing from the Bandra West office of Tiger Baby Digital LLP, the production company run by acclaimed filmmakers Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti. One accused has been arrested, while another remains at large, and investigators fear a wider criminal network may be involved.
What Was Stolen and Its Value
According to reports, the missing hard disks contained a vast range of digital production material, including raw footage, edit timelines, post-production backups, advertisement content, and archives of unreleased projects. The devices themselves are valued at between Rs 12 lakh and Rs 13 lakh. However, industry insiders warn that if any unreleased content finds its way online, the financial and reputational damage could run into crores.
The stolen devices were high-capacity storage units ranging from 16TB to 72TB, typically used by major production houses for films, OTT projects, and commercial shoots. Internal checks revealed that out of 119 hard disks stored at the office, 66 are unaccounted for.
Projects Potentially Compromised
Sources indicate the missing disks allegedly contained production material linked to several high-profile projects, including Made in Heaven, Ghost Stories, Nykaa campaigns, and Gandhi Money. Investigators are examining whether unreleased content from these projects has been accessed, copied, sold, or illegally circulated.
Discovery of the Theft
The case surfaced on May 21 when employees at the Bandra West office could not locate certain hard disks needed for ongoing work. A thorough search revealed several devices missing, with empty and partially damaged boxes found inside storage cabinets. Police noted no signs of forced entry, fire, or external damage, prompting an internal inquiry. A formal complaint was filed by executive assistant Mehjabeen Mushtaq Sheikh, leading to an FIR and full investigation.
Arrests and Suspects
The prime accused, Mohammad Shahid Azim Khan, worked as an office boy at Tiger Baby Digital and was responsible for handling and storing the hard disks for several years. During interrogation, Shahid confessed to stealing multiple hard disks over the past five months and selling 24 of them to a Borivali-based man named Ritesh for approximately Rs 15,000 to Rs 20,000 each. Ritesh is currently absconding, and police are actively searching for him.
Shahid has been unable to account for the remaining missing disks, leading investigators to suspect a larger organized network involved in digital data theft. Police are also examining the possible role of another staff member, Kalpesh Pawar, though no conclusions have been reached, and the probe remains ongoing.
The incident has cast a harsh spotlight on digital security within India's entertainment industry.
