Director Vikram Bhatt arrested in ‘fraud’ case filed by Udaipur-based fertility doctor
Rajasthan Police arrested Bhatt in Mumbai. The doctor claimed that he had agreements with Bhatt for 4 films, including a biopic of the doctor’s wife, which were allegedly not honoured
The Rajasthan Police arrested director Vikram Bhatt from Mumbai on Sunday in connection with a complaint from an Udaipur-based doctor, who alleged that he was defrauded of crores.
He was produced before a court in Bandra, where he was granted a transit remand, following which the police team took him to Rajasthan.
An officer from Versova police station in Mumbai said they had been approached by the Rajasthan Police on Sunday morning, after which they accompanied the Rajasthan Police team to a Yari Road residence, where Bhatt was placed under arrest.
An FIR was filed in the case on November 8 at Bhupalpura police station in Udaipur.
Dr Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF in Udaipur, filed a police complaint alleging large-scale financial and contractual fraud by the film director and others.
According to the FIR, Murdia met Bhatt in Mumbai on April 25, 2024. Murdia claimed that he spoke to Bhatt regarding a film project in memory of Murdia’s late wife, Indira, showcasing her life and Murdia’s work across India in the field of infertility treatment. Along with this, a separate film project based on a historical war narrative “was also supposed to be made”, as per the FIR.
It was alleged that Bhatt assured Murdia that he would manage all aspects of film production.
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Based on these assurances, the complainant claimed that a term sheet was signed on May 24, 2024, between Indira Enterprises and Bhatt’s firm VSB LLP for two films that would cost Rs 40 crore. Murdia claimed he transferred Rs 2.5 crore soon after. He alleged that Bhatt later came to Udaipur and convinced him to expand the project to four films for a total of Rs 47 crore. An additional agreement was signed on June 21, 2024, the FIR claimed.
In July, a new LLP, Indira Entertainment, was formed with Murdia and a family member of Bhatt as 50-50 partners, and all previous contractual terms were carried over, the FIR said.
According to the complaint, vendor bills soon began arriving without proper approval, leading Murdia to set up a verification process through an accountant. Despite this, large payments were allegedly made to individuals not connected to the vendor work, along with withdrawals through self-signed cheques. Murdia alleged that over Rs 2.45 crore was transferred to some firms but was diverted for Bhatt’s other films.
Allegedly inflated bills were repeatedly approved, and whenever he raised objections, Bhatt’s team halted shooting to pressure him, Murdia claimed. Though more than Rs 42.70 crore had been paid — most of the full agreed amount — only one film was released, one completed, a third partly shot, and the fourth not started, the FIR said.
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Murdia claimed that when he questioned the alleged overspending, Bhatt allegedly demanded another Rs 8.91 crore, later increasing the demand to nearly Rs 11 crore.
Murdia alleged that forged vendor claims of Rs 2.46 crore were created to pressure him further. As attempts at negotiation failed, Bhatt allegedly refused to return film assets and threatened consequences if legal action was pursued, the complaint claimed.
Parul Kulshrestha is a Principal Correspondent for The Indian Express, based in Rajasthan. A lawyer turned journalist, she brings a unique cross-disciplinary perspective to her reporting, blending legal precision with deep social inquiry to cover one of India's most culturally and politically vibrant regions.
Expertise and Experience
Legal-Journalistic Synergy: Parul’s transition from a legal background to mainstream journalism provides her with a distinct advantage in interpreting policy, legislation, and judicial impacts. This expertise allows her to "read between the lines" of government orders and court rulings affecting the public.
Diverse Beat: With years of experience across both mainstream newsrooms and independent journalism, she has built high-level authority in several critical areas:
Nomadic Tribes & Marginalized Communities: She is recognized for her sensitive and in-depth reporting on the struggles and rights of Rajasthan's nomadic populations, often giving a voice to those outside the traditional political spotlight.
Gender & Social Justice: Parul focuses on the intersection of law and gender, covering issues ranging from women’s safety and reproductive rights to the socio-economic empowerment of rural women.
Environmental & Political Reporting: She tracks Rajasthan’s complex political landscape—including electoral shifts and bureaucratic changes—alongside critical environmental concerns like water scarcity and land use.
Academic & Professional Pedigree: Her background as a lawyer, combined with her rise to the rank of Principal Correspondent at a national broadsheet, establishes her as a senior voice in the media landscape. ... Read More
