Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and wife Shwetambari sent to judicial custody in alleged Rs 30 crore fraud case; interim bail plea rejected

Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and wife Shwetambari sent to judicial custody in alleged Rs 30 crore fraud case; interim bail plea rejected

Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari have been sent to judicial custody after a Udaipur court rejected their plea for interim bail on medical grounds. The couple, arrested in Mumbai on December 7, was brought to Udaipur the next day and remanded to seven days of police custody on December 9 in connection with an alleged fraud of 30 crore.

According to officials, the case stems from a complaint filed by Udaipur-based Dr Ajay Murdia, founder of the Indira Group of Companies, who has accused the couple and six others of defrauding him under the pretext of producing a film based on his late wife.

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Murdia reportedly wanted to make a biopic and was allegedly promised earnings of Rs 200 crore. However, the project never moved forward, after which he approached Bhopalpura police station in Udaipur and registered an FIR for cheating and related offences.

An FIR lodged on November 17 states that the accused allegedly siphoned off more than Rs 30 crore by giving false assurances of film production and expected profits.

Police officials said the fraud was carried out through fake bills generated by the accused parties.

On Tuesday, the couple’s lawyer moved an application seeking interim bail, citing medical grounds. Advocate Manzoor Hussain told ANI, “The lawyer for the accused presented an application for interim bail, requesting that it be granted on medical grounds. If interim bail is granted before the court session ends, both individuals could be released for a short period to receive medical treatment. Everything depends on the court’s order.”

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However, later in the day, the bail plea was rejected. DSP Suryaveer Singh told the news agency, “The court has ordered to keep them in judicial custody. They will now be sent to the Central Jail in Udaipur.”

The rejection of interim bail means the couple will continue to remain in custody while the investigation moves forward. Police sources indicated that further inquiries are underway to trace the alleged financial transactions and identify all individuals involved in the purported scheme.

The case has drawn significant attention, given Bhatt’s long career in Bollywood and the scale of the alleged fraud. Officials say more statements will be recorded in the coming days, and additional charges could be added depending on the findings.

As the legal proceedings tighten, the court’s decision signals that the investigation will continue without temporary relief for the accused. The matter is expected to return for further hearing soon, with both police and the complainant pressing for a detailed probe into the alleged financial misconduct.