‘Will make biopic on your late wife’: How Indira IVF founder was 'scammed' by director Vikram Bhatt, his wife; promised high earnings

UDAIPUR: Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari Bhatt were arrested in Mumbai on Sunday in connection with a Rs 30 crore cheating case registered in Udaipur, Rajasthan, police said. The case stems from a complaint filed by Udaipur-based IVF specialist Dr Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF, who has alleged that the couple and six others induced him to invest over Rs 30 crore in a proposed biopic on his late wife, promising high earnings that never materialised. A team of Udaipur Police took the couple into custody and later secured transit remand until 9 December to bring them to Rajasthan for further questioning.

Complaint and investigation

According to the police, Dr Murdia was introduced to the accused through an acquaintance in 2024. An agreement was subsequently drawn up in May that year to produce four films, including the biopic, with a total project value of Rs 47 crore. Investigators say the first two films were produced, but the remaining projects were never completed. The probe has found that the accused allegedly generated fake vendor bills, inflated expenditure vouchers and salary records and siphoned off approximately Rs 30 crore from the investment.

Those named in the FIR include Bhatt’s daughter Krishna Bhatt and associates Mehboob Ansari and Dinesh Kataria. Two people had been arrested earlier, police said.

Defence alleges procedural lapses

The couple’s lawyers, Rakesh Singh and Sanjay Singh, told the court that Rajasthan Police had acted “high-handedly”, alleging that the grounds of arrest were not properly communicated and that the accused were forced to sign an undated document. Police have not commented on these allegations.

Next steps

After hearing both sides, the Mumbai court granted transit remand till 9 December, allowing Rajasthan Police to transport the accused by road to Udaipur for further investigation. The case remains under probe, with police examining financial documents and agreements related to the four-film deal.