Director Vikram Bhatt and his wife were arrested by police in Udaipur, Rajasthan, on Sunday while they were in Mumbai. Their arrest relates to allegations of cheating tied to recent film projects, following a complaint from a businessman involved in one of Vikram’s films.
The allegations center around a ₹30 crore fraud case. Dr. Ajay Murdia, who is linked to the Indira Group of Companies, has claimed that he was defrauded while attempting to finance a biopic about his late wife. Murdia alleged he was promised earnings of ₹200 crore but ultimately received nothing, prompting him to file an FIR with local authorities.
Initial investigations revealed that Dr. Murdia was introduced to Vikram Bhatt through an acquaintance, leading to an agreement in May 2024 concerning the production of four films, including the biopic. While the first two films were completed, the remaining projects were not, leading to the filing of the cheating complaint.
Investigators found that the accused allegedly created fraudulent documents, including invoices from nonexistent vendors, which they used to misappropriate Dr. Murdia’s funds. Reports suggest that approximately ₹30 crore was siphoned off due to this alleged deception.
In response to the charges, Vikram Bhatt has consistently denied any wrongdoing. His attorneys, Rakesh Singh and Sanjay Singh, claimed the couple was arrested without the appropriate legal procedures. They alleged that during the arrest, the couple was intimidated and coerced into signing documents against their will.
After their arrest, the couple was presented in court, where their lawyers claimed mistreatment by the police. They stated that law enforcement threatened Vikram Bhatt with torture in Rajasthan unless he complied with their demands. Following the arguments from both sides, the court authorized a transit remand until December 9 to allow for further proceedings.