Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari Bhatt secured interim bail from the Supreme Court on Friday in a high-profile cheating case involving ₹30 crore. The couple had been lodged in Udaipur jail since December 7, 2024, after being arrested in Mumbai and brought to Rajasthan.
A bench led by Chief Justice Suren Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi ordered their release, directing the Chief Judicial Magistrate to outline bail terms and conditions. The court also issued notices to complainant Ajay Murdia—founder of Indira IVF and Fertility Centre—and the Rajasthan government, scheduling the next hearing for February 19.
The Courtroom Exchange
Senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, representing Vikram Bhatt, questioned the mass arrests in court. “He cannot put the director, his wife, everybody in jail. What is going on?” Rohatgi argued.
The opposing counsel countered that the case wasn’t simple, emphasizing it involved a ₹30 crore fraud. But the bench made its stance clear: these cases cannot be weaponized merely to recover money. Bar and Bench reported that the court granted interim bail subject to bail bonds, with Murdia being impleaded as a respondent.
What Is the Vikram Bhatt Cheating Case About?
Ajay Murdia filed a complaint accusing Vikram Bhatt, Shwetambari, and others of cheating and criminal breach of trust. According to the allegations, the accused took ₹30 crore under the pretext of a film project and misappropriated the funds.
Murdia claims they created fake bills under various names to siphon money from him. The complaint alleges that Vikram and his associates deposited the money into their personal accounts and used it for purposes other than the promised film production.
The Rajasthan police also arrested Udaipur-based Dinesh Kataria and Vikram’s manager Mehboob Ansari in connection with the case. On January 31, the Rajasthan High Court had rejected their bail application, stating that releasing them “would not be appropriate.”
Another Fraud Allegation Surfaces
The troubles don’t end there. In January 2025, a separate businessman filed a complaint claiming that Vikram Bhatt and his daughter, Krishna Bhatt Sarda, cheated him out of ₹13.5 crore. The Versova police station in Mumbai registered the case, and the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) has reportedly taken over the investigation.
This second case adds another layer of complexity to the filmmaker’s legal battles, raising questions about similar patterns of alleged financial misconduct.
The Legal Road Ahead for Vikram Bhatt
While the Supreme Court bail offers temporary relief, Vikram Bhatt faces a long legal battle on multiple fronts. The ₹30 crore case will proceed with the next hearing scheduled for February 19, where the court will examine Murdia’s complaint and the Rajasthan government’s response.
The separate ₹13.5 crore case in Mumbai also remains under investigation by the EOW. With two major fraud allegations hanging over him, the veteran filmmaker’s reputation and career face unprecedented scrutiny. The coming months will determine whether these are cases of financial mismanagement or deliberate fraud.
