Bollywood Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt, Wife Sent to Judicial Custody in ₹30 Crore Fraud Case

Bollywood filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife, Shwetambari, were sent to judicial custody on Tuesday in connection with an alleged ₹30 crore fraud case. The couple was denied interim bail on medical grounds after spending seven days in police custody and was subsequently remanded to judicial custody, according to an earlier report by Hindustan Times.

Deputy Superintendent of Police Suryaveer Singh told news agency ANI that the couple would be lodged at the Central Jail in Udaipur.

Why were Vikram Bhatt and his wife arrested?

Bhatt and his wife were arrested in Mumbai on Sunday, December 7, and brought to Udaipur late on December 8 by Rajasthan Police. They were produced before an Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate court the following day, which granted police custody for seven days in connection with the alleged fraud.

The case involves Bhatt, his wife and six other accused, who are alleged to have cheated Udaipur-based doctor Dr Ajay Murdia of around ₹30 crore. Murdia is the founder of the Indira Group of Companies.

According to police, the doctor wanted to make a biopic on his late wife and was allegedly promised returns of ₹200 crore. When the project failed to materialise, Murdia approached the Bhopalpura police station in Udaipur, where an FIR was registered for cheating and other offences, PTI reported.

Four-film deal, fake bills alleged

PTI reported that Murdia was introduced to the accused in April 2024 by an acquaintance, who proposed producing a biopic on his late wife. In May 2024, Murdia allegedly entered into a ₹47 crore agreement with the Bhatts to produce four films, including the biopic.

Police said two of the four films were made, while the remaining two were never produced. Investigators further allege that the accused prepared fake documents, including bills from non-existent vendors and inflated salary vouchers, to siphon off nearly ₹30 crore from the doctor.

The investigation is ongoing.