Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife arrested in connection with a Rs 30-crore IVF fraud case: Report

Popular film director, Vikram Bhatt his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, were taken into custody for allegedly duping Indira IVF Hospital owner Dr. Ajay Murdia of Rs 30 crore. The complainant had approached the couple to produce a biopic on his late wife, but the project didn't take off as expected, leading to allegations of cheating against the Bhatts.

Allegations on Vikram Bhatt

On Sunday, December 7th, the Udaipur police apprehended a couple from Mumbai. An official told PTI that six additional individuals have been implicated in defrauding Dr. Ajay Murdia, the founder of the Indira Group of Companies in Udaipur. Previously, two people had already been arrested in relation to the fraud case.

Dr. Murdia, the owner of Indira IVF Hospital, initially planned to create a biopic about his late wife. According to his FIR, the couple assured him of ?200 crore in earnings. "But nothing materialised, after which Murdia approached Bhopalpura police station in Udaipur, where an FIR was registered for cheating and other offences," the official added. Udaipur police obtained a transit remand for Bhatt and his wife, which was later extended until December 9th.

Reasons behind the arrest

Rakesh Singh and Sanjay Singh, representing the couple, argued that the Rajasthan police's arrest was conducted without proper authorization. They also stated that the reasons for the arrest were not adequately explained to their clients. Additionally, the lawyers alleged that the police had threatened and coerced the couple into signing an undated document.

Dr. Murdia, whose business operates nationally and focuses on female infertility, accuses the filmmaker and the other suspects of defrauding him through incentives and false promises of significant profits from film production. The defense team also asserted that the police threatened to torture Vikram Bhatt in Rajasthan if he did not comply with their demands to sign the document.

About the police investigation reveal

Initial police investigations indicate that Dr. Murdia was introduced to the accused by an acquaintance, who suggested producing a biopic about the doctor's late wife. In May 2024, an agreement was established between Murdia and the Bhatts to produce four films, including the biopic. The total value of the deal was ?47 crore. According to the police, while the first two projects were completed, the remaining films were never produced.

Udaipur police's investigation revealed that the accused created fraudulent documents, including fake vendor bills, with the intent to defraud Dr. Murdia of crores of rupees. They allegedly devised a scheme to deceive the doctor by generating fake bills from nonexistent vendors, inflating vouchers and salary documents, and then falsely verifying them.

The accused are alleged to have misappropriated approximately ?30 crore from Dr. Murdia. Following their court appearance, the Rajasthan police requested a two-day transit remand to transport the accused from Mumbai to Udaipur for further interrogation and legal proceedings. After hearing both sides, the court granted the transit remand until December 9th.