24 News Update Mumbai: Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt was arrested on Sunday morning in a ₹30-crore fraud case by a joint team of Mumbai and Rajasthan Police. He was detained from Ganga Bhavan Apartments, Yari Road, which police say is the residence of his sister-in-law.
Immediately after the arrest, Rajasthan Police filed a petition in Bandra Court seeking transit remand to take him to Udaipur.
FIR Filed by Indira IVF Group Chairman
Udaipur industrialist and Indira IVF Group founder Dr. Ajay Murdia lodged an FIR on 17 November, accusing Vikram Bhatt and seven others of cheating him of ₹30 crore.
According to the complaint, Murdia met Dinesh Kataria at an event, who proposed making a biopic on his wife. Murdia was then called to Vrindavan Studio, Mumbai, on 24 April 2024, where he was introduced to Vikram Bhatt.
₹40-crore Biopic Contract Claim
Murdia alleges he was told that Vikram Bhatt, his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, and daughter Krishna were all involved in film production.
Two films — Bionic and Maharana — were reportedly finalised for a ₹40-crore contract.
On 31 May 2024, Murdia transferred ₹2.5 crore via RTGS. Later, he was asked to pay an additional ₹7 crore.
He was told that four films would cost ₹47 crore, promising a return of ₹100–200 crore.
Murdia claims the “vendors” he was told to pay — on directions of Vikram Bhatt and his wife — turned out to be fake, including a house painter and an auto-rickshaw driver. A large portion of the money allegedly ended up in Shwetambari Bhatt’s account.
Arrest After Lookout Notice
Last week, Udaipur Police issued lookout notices against Vikram Bhatt, his wife Shwetambari, and six others, instructing them to appear before authorities by 8 December and prohibiting them from leaving the country.
After the notice became public, Bhatt claimed he had never received any official communication:
“I believe Rajasthan Police has been misled. I have emails and contracts as proof. If I was cheating, why would the complainant start a third film with me?”
He also alleged that delays in payment to technicians — supposedly due to the complainant — stalled the film.
Next Steps
Once the transit remand is granted, Rajasthan Police will take Vikram Bhatt to Udaipur for detailed questioning.
Investigators will now focus on the financial trail, fake vendors, and alleged fund diversion as the case moves into a deeper probe.
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