A major data theft case has rocked the Mumbai entertainment industry after 66 hard disks allegedly went missing from the office of filmmaker duo Zoya Akhtar and Reema Kagti’s production company, Tiger Baby Digital LLP.
Mumbai Police have arrested one person in connection with the case, while another accused remains absconding as investigations continue.
Sensitive Film and OTT Data Reportedly Stolen
According to Bandra Police, the missing hard disks contained a large volume of sensitive production material, including raw footage, edited sequences, post-production backups, advertisements, and archival data of unreleased projects.
The estimated value of the physical devices is said to be between ₹12 lakh and ₹13 lakh. However, industry insiders believe the potential damage could be significantly higher if any unreleased content is leaked or misused.
Projects reportedly linked to the stored data include major productions such as Made In Heaven, Ghost Stories, Nykaa campaigns, and Gandhi Money.
One Arrested, Another Accused on the Run
Police have arrested Mohammad Shahid Azim Khan, who was reportedly employed at the production house and handled storage-related responsibilities.
Another accused identified as Ritesh is currently absconding, and police teams are conducting searches to trace him and recover the missing devices.
Investigators are also examining whether the stolen content was copied, sold, or circulated further.
How the Theft Came to Light
The incident reportedly came to light on May 21 when staff at the Bandra West office noticed that several hard disks were missing from storage.
During a detailed inspection, employees allegedly found empty and damaged boxes inside storage cabinets where the devices were previously kept.
Importantly, police noted there were no signs of forced entry or external damage at the premises, suggesting the theft may have been carried out internally.
Following a complaint by the company’s Executive Assistant and HR administrator, Bandra Police registered an FIR and began investigating the matter.
Internal Probe and Suspected Involvement
During interrogation, the arrested accused reportedly admitted to stealing multiple hard disks over a period of several months. He also allegedly confessed to selling a portion of the stolen devices to a buyer in Borivali.
However, the accused has not been able to account for all missing units, raising suspicions of a larger network or additional involvement.
Police are also examining the possible role of another staff member, though no formal charges have been confirmed at this stage.
Digital Security Concerns in Film Industry
The case has highlighted growing concerns over data security in India’s film and OTT production ecosystem, which increasingly relies on high-capacity digital storage systems.
With production houses managing vast amounts of unreleased content, even a single breach could lead to significant financial losses and intellectual property risks.
Investigations are ongoing to determine the full extent of the breach and whether any of the stolen content has been accessed or leaked online.
