In a dramatic turn of events that has shaken Bollywood, filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has been arrested in a Rs 30-crore fraud case filed by IVF specialist Dr Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF. The arrest was carried out during a joint operation by Rajasthan Police and Mumbai Police, following a nationwide lookout notice against Bhatt and several associates.
Bhatt was detained from his sister-in-law’s home in Mumbai late Monday night. Rajasthan Police will now seek a transit remand from the Bandra Court to move him to Udaipur, where the FIR was originally registered.
The arrest comes just days after investigators ordered Bhatt, his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, daughter Krishna Bhatt, and five others to appear before police by December 8—a summons they reportedly ignored.
The Rs 30-Crore Promise: ‘A Film That Could Earn Rs 200 Crore’
Dr Murdia’s complaint paints a picture of elaborate deception.
The IVF pioneer says he was lured into investing in a biopic based on his late wife’s life—a project he believed would inspire millions. What began as a creative collaboration soon escalated into a high-stakes financial deal, allegedly orchestrated by Bhatt and his network.
According to the FIR:
●Dr Murdia met Udaipur-based businessman Dinesh Kataria, who claimed close ties with Bhatt.
●On April 25, 2024, Kataria arranged a meeting at Vrindavan Studio, Mumbai, where Bhatt assured Dr Murdia that the film could generate ₹200 crore in profits.
●Bhatt then introduced his wife and daughter as part of the core team, strengthening credibility.
●Over several months, Dr Murdia transferred ₹30 crore to VSB LLP, a company registered in Shwetambari Bhatt’s name, allegedly for pre-production and creative development.
The police are now probing whether these funds were diverted to produce Bhatt’s recently released film “Tumko Meri Kasam”—a movie inspired by Dr Murdia’s life but released without giving him credits or profit rights.
Who Are the Eight Accused?
The FIR names the following individuals:
1. Vikram Bhatt
2. Shwetambari Bhatt
3. Krishna Bhatt
4. Dinesh Kataria (Udaipur)
5. Mehboob Ansari (Producer, Thane)
6. Mudit Buttan (Delhi)
7. Gangeshwar Lal Srivastava (Chairman, DSC)
8. Ashok Dubey (General Secretary, FWICE)
This has raised major concerns within the film industry, given Dubey’s senior role in FWICE, the largest federation of film workers in India.
The Investigation: Multi-State Money Trail Under Scanner
Police teams from Rajasthan and Mumbai are now combing through:
●Bank transfers
●Digital communications
●Contracts and agreements
●Corporate filings of production companies
Officials believe the transactions involve multiple intermediaries, raising suspicion of layered fund diversion—often seen in financial fraud cases linked to film financing.
A police officer revealed,
“This appears to be a structured investment scam under the guise of film production. More arrests are possible.”
Bollywood in Shock
Vikram Bhatt, known for films like Raaz, 1920, Ankahee, and Haunted, has long been regarded as a prominent thriller filmmaker. His sudden arrest has sent ripples across the Hindi film fraternity, especially with senior industry names under investigation.
For now, all eyes are on the Bandra Court proceedings and whether the state police will uncover deeper financial links within Bollywood’s production networks.
