Vikram Bhatt Arrested In Rs 30 Crore Fraud Case After Denying Dr Murdia’s Allegations

Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has been arrested in a joint operation by Rajasthan and Mumbai Police over a Rs 30 crore fraud case. The director was taken into custody from his sister-in-law’s residence in Mumbai’s Yaari Road area. The allegations involve Bhatt and his associates defrauding Dr Ajay Murdia by promising huge returns on a biographical film project honouring his late wife.

The Alleged Fraud

Dr Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF Hospital, alleged that Bhatt and his team lured him into investing more than Rs 30 crore in a biopic project. The investors were promised profits of up to Rs 200 crore. Discussions about the project began at Vrindavan Studio, Mumbai, in April 2024, where Bhatt assured complete handling of the filmmaking process.

Arrest and Transit Remand

Vikram Bhatt was arrested from Mumbai, and Rajasthan Police will apply for a transit remand at Bandra Court to bring him to Udaipur for further investigation. Udaipur Police had previously issued lookout notices against Bhatt, his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, and six others, preventing them from travelling abroad without permission.

Associates Named in the Case

The FIR lists Bhatt’s wife, his daughter Krishna, producer Mehboob Ansari, Dinesh Kataria, Mudit Butattan, and officials linked to the Federation of Western India Cine Employees as accused. Investigations focus on the promises made and financial transactions during the early planning of the biopic.

Bhatt’s Response

Earlier, Bhatt had denied the allegations, claiming that police had been misled and the documents were 'completely fabricated'. He stated that his wife and daughter were involved as associates via a firm registered as VSB LLP, and that he would manage all filmmaking work.

Next Steps in Legal Proceedings

With Bhatt in custody, authorities are expected to complete procedural formalities and question all accused. The case has drawn attention due to the scale of the alleged fraud and the involvement of prominent film industry figures.