MUMBAI/UDAIPUR: A stalled biopic, contested promises of profit and a trail of alleged financial misrepresentation have drawn one of Bollywood’s better-known directors into a criminal investigation that now stretches from Mumbai to Udaipur.
A Film Project That Never Took Shape
The case against filmmaker Vikram Bhatt, his wife Shwetambari, and six others originates in a proposed biographical film that, according to investigators, never moved beyond assurances and paperwork. Police say the project was pitched as a lucrative venture, with projections of high returns used to attract substantial funding.
The complaint was filed by Dr. Ajay Murdia, a Udaipur-based businessman and the founder of the Indira Group of Companies, who told investigators that he was persuaded to invest heavily in the film, which was to be based on the life of his late wife. Officials say the dispute centers not merely on a failed creative collaboration, but on allegations that the project itself was used as a vehicle to extract money under false pretenses.
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According to the first information report (FIR), more than ₹30 crore was allegedly siphoned off through claims about production costs, schedules and expected profits. Investigators have also alleged that fabricated bills were generated to give the appearance of legitimate expenditure tied to the film.
Allegations of Fraud and the Police Case
The FIR, registered on November 17 at the Bhopalpura police station in Udaipur, accuses Bhatt, his wife and others of cheating and related offences. Police officials say the investigation is examining how funds were transferred, who benefited from the transactions and whether there was a coordinated effort to mislead the complainant.
Investigators describe the case as one that goes beyond a commercial disagreement, pointing to what they claim is documentary evidence of false assurances and manipulated accounts. The scale of the alleged fraud has amplified scrutiny, particularly because it involves a public figure whose career spans decades and includes commercially successful films such as Ghulam and Raaz.
At the same time, police have emphasized that the inquiry remains ongoing, and that further action will depend on what the financial and digital trails reveal in the coming weeks.
Arrests, Remand and Judicial Custody
Bhatt and Shwetambari were reportedly arrested in Mumbai on December 7 and subsequently brought to Udaipur for questioning. They were produced before a local court on December 8 and initially remanded to police custody for seven days, a period during which investigators sought to question them about financial transactions and documentation linked to the film project.
As the police remand expired, the court considered a request from the defence seeking interim bail on medical grounds. The application argued that temporary relief was necessary to allow the accused to undergo treatment, leaving the decision to the court’s discretion.
On Tuesday, the court rejected that plea and ordered that both Bhatt and Shwetambari be sent to judicial custody at the Central Jail in Udaipur. Deputy Superintendent of Police Suryaveer Singh, confirming the development, said the legal process would continue as the investigation progresses.
A Public Figure Under Legal Scrutiny
For Vikram Bhatt, the case has drawn particular attention because of his prominence in Bollywood and his long-standing presence in the industry. Legal experts note that disputes over film financing are not uncommon, often resolved through civil litigation or arbitration. What distinguishes this case, they say, is the invocation of criminal charges and the scale of the alleged financial wrongdoing.
For now, the matter rests with the courts and investigators, as the accused remain in judicial custody and the police continue to piece together the financial narrative behind a film that, according to the complainant, existed more on paper than on screen.