Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has been booked in an alleged ₹30-crore fraud case in Udaipur, following a complaint filed by Dr Ajay Murdia, the founder of Indira IVF. The FIR, lodged at Bhupalpura police station, also names Bhatt’s wife Shwetambari Bhatt and six others as co-accused. The case has triggered a sharp exchange of allegations, with both parties accusing each other of deceit and financial misconduct.
Alleged promise of a ₹200-crore film project
According to the FIR, Dr Murdia was persuaded to invest over ₹30 crore in what was described as a high-value film project expected to generate profits of nearly ₹200 crore. The project, reportedly pitched as an emotional biopic dedicated to Dr Murdia’s late wife, was said to be helmed by Bhatt and his team.
The complaint also names individuals identified as Mehboob and Dinesh Kataria, who, according to the FIR, were involved in convincing the doctor to commit the investment. The complainant has alleged that the promoters assured him of substantial returns but failed to provide transparency on production progress or financial utilisation.
Bhatt rejects accusations, terms FIR ‘misleading’
Reacting to the case, Vikram Bhatt strongly denied the allegations, calling the FIR “misleading” and asserting that the police had been misguided. Bhatt said he was informed about the FIR only on Monday.
“I have read the FIR, and in my view it is completely incorrect,” he said. “The things written in the complaint are absolutely wrong. It seems obvious that some forged or fabricated documents have been created to support these accusations. I don’t know what exactly has been presented, but something has clearly been used to mislead the authorities.”
Bhatt emphasised that he would cooperate fully with the investigation and make available all documentation required to establish his version of events. “If the police need evidence, they can come to me. I have everything on record,” he said.
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Director blames complainant for halting the film mid-production
In a surprising counter-claim, Bhatt alleged that it was Dr Murdia who disrupted the project by halting the production of the film titled Virat midway. According to the filmmaker, this abrupt stoppage resulted in unpaid dues and stalled commitments to a large number of technicians.
“He stopped the film Virat midway,” Bhatt said, adding that payments worth nearly ₹250 crore allegedly owed to workers and crew remain unsettled. “My technicians have been trying to reach him. This appears to be a tactic to avoid clearing payments while creating pressure through an FIR.”
These statements indicate that the dispute may be part of a larger financial disagreement over the film’s production, rather than a simple case of investment-related fraud.
Police investigation underway
The Rajasthan police have begun examining the complaint, and further questioning of the named individuals is expected. While no official statement has been made by the investigating team, sources indicate that the case involves reviewing financial transfers, production contracts, and communication linked to the film project. Legal experts note that cases involving film investments often hinge on the nature of contractual obligations, promised deliverables, and whether there was intentional deception. If forged documents are indeed involved, the case could escalate into a more serious financial and criminal probe.
Industry reaction
The development has caught the attention of the film fraternity, though most industry voices have refrained from commenting publicly. Bhatt, known for directing and producing numerous thrillers, horror films, and web series, has maintained that the allegations against him are part of an orchestrated attempt to distort facts.
