Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife, Shwetambari, have been sent to judicial custody in connection with an alleged ₹30 crore fraud case after a court in Udaipur rejected their plea for interim bail on medical
grounds.
The couple was earlier remanded to seven days of police custody by the court on December 9. On Tuesday, their legal team sought interim bail, citing medical reasons, but the court declined the request and ordered that both be transferred to judicial custody.
Advocate Manzoor Hussain, appearing for the accused, told ANI, “The lawyer for the accused presented an application for interim bail, requesting that it be granted on medical grounds. If interim bail is granted before the court session ends, both individuals could be released for a short period to receive medical treatment. Everything depends on the court’s order.”
However, the plea was not accepted. Later in the day, Deputy Superintendent of Police Suryaveer Singh confirmed the court’s decision, saying, “The court has ordered to keep them in judicial custody. They will now be sent to the Central Jail in Udaipur.”
Arrest and Court Proceedings
Vikram Bhatt and Shwetambari were arrested in Mumbai on December 7 and subsequently brought to Udaipur by the police. They were produced before a local court on December 8, following which they were remanded to police custody for seven days on December 9.
The case involves allegations of cheating and financial fraud amounting to over ₹30 crore. Vikram, his wife, and six others have been named as accused in the case, which was registered at the Bhopalpura police station in Udaipur.
According to investigators, the complainant is Udaipur-based Dr Ajay Murdia, the founder of the Indira Group of Companies and owner of Indira IVF Hospital.
Allegations of False Promises
An official familiar with the investigation told PTI that Dr Murdia had approached the filmmakers with the idea of making a biopic on his late wife. He has alleged that he was promised returns of up to ₹200 crore from the proposed film project.
“Murdia, owner of Indira IVF Hospital, wanted to make a biopic on his late wife. He has alleged that he was promised earnings of ₹200 crore. But nothing materialised, after which Murdia approached Bhopalpura police station in Udaipur, where an FIR was registered for cheating and other offences,” the official said.
The FIR, lodged on November 17, accuses the defendants of siphoning off more than ₹30 crore by offering false assurances related to film production and projected profits. Police have further alleged that the fraud was carried out through fake bills generated by the accused.
Investigations into the case are ongoing, and authorities have said further action will be taken based on the findings of the probe.
