Vikram Bhatt and His Wife Arrested in ₹30 Crore Fraud by Udaipur Police

Post by : Mina Rahman

On Sunday, the Udaipur police apprehended renowned filmmaker Vikram Bhatt along with his wife, Shwetambari Bhatt, in Mumbai. This arrest is linked to a ₹30 crore fraud case in the film production sector, involving Dr. Ajay Murdia, the founder of Indira Group of Companies in Udaipur.

Officials revealed that Dr. Murdia, who leads businesses helping women with infertility issues across India, had commissioned the Bhatts to create a biopic about his deceased wife, with an expected revenue of ₹200 crore. However, after no developments occurred, Dr. Murdia filed a FIR at the Bhopalpura police station for fraud and other allegations.

Initial inquiries indicate that Dr. Murdia had been introduced to the Bhatts through an acquaintance. In May 2024, a contract was signed between the parties for the creation of four films, including the biographical film, with a collective value of ₹47 crore. While the first two films were claimed to be completed, the remaining projects were left unproduced.

Udaipur police reported that the defendants are believed to have created fraudulent documents, such as bills from non-existent suppliers, to misappropriate funds from the plaintiff. Inflated vouchers and payroll documents were used to validate the funds, with an estimated ₹30 crore being unlawfully transferred.

Post-arrest in Mumbai, the Rajasthan police requested a two-day transit remand to bring the couple back to Udaipur for detailed questioning and legal action. The couple’s legal representatives asserted that the police coerced them into signing documents without disclosing specific details and threatened them with abuse if they refused.

The court subsequently approved their transit remand until December 9. This case has gained significant attention, marking it as one of the most substantial alleged frauds within the Indian film sector recently.