Vikram Bhatt arrested in ₹30cr fraud case: Reports
What's the story
Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has reportedly been arrested in connection with a ₹30 crore fraud case. The arrest was made by the Rajasthan Police and Mumbai Police during a joint operation at his sister-in-law's residence. Now, the Rajasthan Police will apply for a transit remand from the Bandra Court to take Bhatt to Udaipur.
Legal proceedings
Lookout notice issued against Bhatt and others
A lookout notice was issued against Bhatt, his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, and six other individuals during the Udaipur Police's investigation into the case. The notice required all accused to appear before the Udaipur Police by December 8 and prohibited them from leaving the country without permission. The complaint alleges that the couple lured Dr. Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF Hospital, into investing over ₹30 crore in a film project with promised profits of up to ₹200 crore.
Role in project
Bhatt's involvement in the alleged fraud
The FIR filed at Bhupalpura Police Station in Udaipur alleges that Bhatt promised to handle all filmmaking work for a biographical film on Dr. Murdia's late wife. He also asked Dr. Murdia to send money accordingly and mentioned his wife and daughter as associates on the project. The director has registered a firm, VSB LLP, under Shwetambari's name for this purpose.
Connection to case
Murdia's search for a filmmaker led to Bhatt
Dr. Murdia wanted to make a biopic on his late wife and approached Dinesh Kataria for help. On Kataria's recommendation, he visited Vrindavan Studio in Mumbai on April 25, 2023, where he met Bhatt. The three discussed the possibility of making a biopic on Dr. Murdia's wife during this meeting. The film, titled Tumko Meri Kasam, was released earlier this year and starred Esha Deol and Anupam Kher.
Bhatt's statement
Bhatt earlier called the FIR 'misleading'
Defending himself, Bhatt told NDTV in November, "I have read the FIR, and in my view it is misleading. The police have been completely misguided because the things written in the FIR are absolutely wrong." "It's obvious that he must have created some fabricated, forged documents. I don't know what exactly, but there must be something he used to convince the police." Bhatt also accused Murdia of abruptly halting the production of the film Virat and failing to pay technicians.