Bollywood Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and Wife Sent to Judicial Custody in ₹30 Crore Fraud Case

New Delhi, December 17, 2025: In a significant development for the Indian film industry, veteran filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife, Shwetambari Soni, have been remanded to judicial custody by a Udaipur court. The couple is at the center of a high-profile investigation involving allegations of a ₹30 crore financial fraud, fake billing, and unfulfilled film contracts.

The court’s decision on December 17, 2024, came after the couple’s seven-day police remand ended. Despite their legal team seeking interim bail on medical grounds, the court rejected the plea and ordered them to be sent to the Udaipur Central Jail.

The Core Allegations: A Biopic Gone Wrong

The case stems from an FIR filed by Dr. Ajay Murdia, the founder of Indira IVF. According to the complaint, the dispute began with a project deeply personal to Murdia: a biopic dedicated to his late wife.

• The Promise: Dr. Murdia alleges that Vikram Bhatt and his associates promised to produce the biopic, assuring him that the film would generate returns upwards of ₹200 crore.
• The “4-Film” Deal: The agreement reportedly expanded from a single biopic to a total of four films for a staggering investment of ₹47 crore.
• Non-Performance: While two smaller projects were reportedly completed, the complainant alleges that the most significant project—the biopic—never saw the light of day. Murdia claims that over ₹30 crore was siphoned off without the films being produced.

The Evidence: Fake Bills and Ghost Vendors

The investigation by the Udaipur police has uncovered more than just a broken contract. Authorities allege a systematic attempt to deceive the investor through:

1. Fabricated Documents: Investigators claim the accused used fake bills from non-existent vendors to justify production expenses.
2. Inflated Costs: Salary vouchers and production costs were reportedly “greatly inflated” compared to reality.
3. Siphoning Funds: Police believe these fake documents were used to transfer crores of rupees into various accounts under the guise of filmmaking expenses.

Vikram Bhatt’s Defense

Vikram Bhatt has strongly denied all charges, calling the FIR “misleading” and a tactic to avoid clearing dues.

• Counter-Allegations: Bhatt claims that it was Dr. Murdia who halted the production of the film Virat midway, leaving technicians and crew members unpaid.
• Claims of Forgery: The filmmaker suggested that the documents used to file the FIR might have been fabricated to mislead the police. “I have complete evidence for what I am saying,” Bhatt told the media prior to his arrest.

What’s Next?

With the couple now in judicial custody, the Udaipur police are expected to deepen their probe into the financial trail. Along with Vikram and Shwetambari, six others have been named in the case, including the director’s daughter, Krishna Bhatt.

The case serves as a cautionary tale for high-value investments in the film industry, highlighting the complexities of “creative” contracts and the legal ramifications when they fail to materialize.