Vikram Bhatt Cheating Case: ₹30 Crore Fraud

# Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and Wife Arrested in ₹30 Crore Cheating Case

A team of Udaipur Police arrested acclaimed filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife, shwetambari Bhatt, in Mumbai on Sunday, December 7, 2025, in connection with a ₹30 crore cheating case. The couple is accused of defrauding a prominent Udaipur-based businessman.

The investigation centers around allegations that Bhatt, his wife, and six others conspired to cheat Dr. Ajay Murdia, founder of the Indira Group of Companies, out of ₹30 crore. According to reports, two individuals were previously arrested in connection with the case.

Biopic Deal Gone Sour

The alleged fraud stemmed from a proposed biopic on dr. Murdia’s late wife. Dr. Murdia, who owns indira IVF hospital, reportedly entered into an agreement with the Bhatts in May 2024 to produce a total of four films, including the biopic, with a total deal value of ₹47 crore. While the first two projects were reportedly completed, the remaining films were never produced.

“Murdia was promised earnings of ₹200 crore, but nothing materialized,” a senior official stated. Following the stalled production, Dr. Murdia filed a First Data Report (FIR) at the Bhopalpura police station in Udaipur, alleging cheating and other offenses.

Did you know? – A transit remand allows police to transport an accused person to another jurisdiction for further investigation. It’s a temporary order,typically lasting a few days.

Allegations of Fraudulent Practices

Preliminary investigations by the Udaipur Police suggest the accused engaged in deceptive practices to misappropriate funds. The probe revealed the planning of fake documents, including bills from nonexistent vendors, and inflated financial records.

“A plan was prepared by the accused persons to deceive the complainant, receiving funds by preparing fake bills… and verifying them as true,” the official added. Police believe approximately ₹30 crore was allegedly siphoned off from Dr. Murdia through these methods.

pro tip: – When entering into large financial agreements, self-reliant verification of all parties and thorough due diligence are crucial steps to protect your interests.

Transit Remand and Legal Challenges

On sunday evening, udaipur police secured a transit remand for vikram Bhatt and Shwetambari Bhatt, allowing them to be transported to Udaipur for further interrogation and legal proceedings. the remand is valid until December 9.

However, the arrests have been met with resistance from the couple’s legal team. Lawyers Rakesh Singh and Sanjay Singh claim the Rajasthan police acted without proper authorization and allegedly subjected their clients to coercive tactics.

“Rajasthan police had high-handedly arrested the duo without proper permission,” Singh stated. The lawyers further allege that the couple was threatened and forced to sign a document without a date or time stamp. They claim police threatened to use coercive measures if the document wasn’t signed.

The court heard arguments from both sides before granting the transit remand

Reader question: – Do you think filmmakers should be held to a higher standard of financial transparency when dealing with private investors?