Renowned filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has been arrested by a joint team of Rajasthan and Mumbai Police in connection with an alleged ₹30-crore fraud case. The operation was conducted at his sister-in-law’s residence in Mumbai, following a lookout notice issued against him and several associates.
Officials confirmed that the Rajasthan Police will seek a transit remand from the Bandra Court to transfer Bhatt to Udaipur, where the case was originally registered. The arrest comes days after the police had ordered Bhatt, his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, and six others to appear before the Udaipur Police by December 8.
Complaint Filed by IVF Pioneer Dr Ajay Murdia
The case stems from a complaint lodged by Dr Ajay Murdia, founder of the Indira IVF Group, who accused Bhatt and seven others of cheating him of ₹30 crore under the pretext of producing a biopic based on his late wife’s life.
The FIR was registered around 20 days ago at the Bhopalpura Police Station in Udaipur against eight people — Vikram Bhatt, Shwetambari Bhatt, their daughter Krishna Bhatt, Dinesh Kataria (Udaipur), Mehboob Ansari (Thane-based producer), Mudit Buttan (Delhi), Gangeshwar Lal Srivastava (Chairman, DSC), and Ashok Dubey (General Secretary, Federation of Western India Cine Employees).
The complaint alleges that Bhatt and his associates lured Dr Murdia with the promise of producing a film that could yield up to ₹200 crore in profits.
How the Alleged Fraud Began
According to police reports, Dr Murdia first came in contact with Dinesh Kataria while seeking help to produce a biographical film. Kataria introduced him to Vikram Bhatt at Vrindavan Studio, Mumbai, on April 25, 2024.
During the meeting, Bhatt reportedly assured Murdia that he would handle all aspects of the production and asked him to transfer funds for pre-production and creative work. Bhatt also introduced his wife and daughter as project associates, adding credibility to the proposal.
Subsequently, Bhatt’s firm, VSB LLP, registered in his wife’s name, was used for financial transactions linked to the project. Over the following months, Dr Murdia transferred approximately ₹30 crore to the firm and associated accounts.
Film Release and Dispute
Earlier this year, Bhatt’s film “Tumko Meri Kasam”, starring Anupam Kher, Ishwak Singh, Adah Sharma, and Esha Deol, was released. The film was reportedly inspired by the life of Dr Ajay Murdia and his wife, further deepening suspicions that the funds may have been diverted to finance the production.
After the release, Dr Murdia claimed that he was neither given producer credits nor profit rights, and that Bhatt’s team had misappropriated the funds meant for joint investment. The doctor subsequently filed a police complaint, leading to the issuance of the lookout notice.
Lookout Notice and Ongoing Investigation
Seven days before the arrest, Udaipur Police issued a nationwide lookout notice against all eight accused. The notice prohibited them from leaving the country without permission and required them to appear before investigators by December 8.
Investigators from Rajasthan are now verifying bank records, digital correspondence, and contract papers to establish the money trail. The probe is being led by Bhopalpura Police Station, with coordination from Mumbai’s economic offenses team.
Police sources said that financial transfers through multiple intermediaries and production companies are under scrutiny to determine the extent of the alleged fraud.
Shockwaves in the Film Industry
The arrest of Vikram Bhatt, known for films like Raaz, 1920, Haunted, and Ankahee, has sent shockwaves through the Hindi film industry. The case has also drawn attention to the involvement of senior industry figures such as Ashok Dubey from the Federation of Western India Cine Employees (FWICE).
A Mumbai police official said, “This is not just a single fraud; it appears to be a pattern of investment-based deception linked to film production networks. We are investigating possible links between financiers, producers, and other intermediaries.”
The Rajasthan Police have confirmed that further arrests are likely as they pursue evidence of financial misappropriation and breach of trust across states.
