Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has reportedly been arrested following a lookout notice issued against him, his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, and six other individuals in connection with a ₹30 crore fraud.

According to reports, the arrest of the 56-year-old filmmaker took place during a coordinated operation by the Rajasthan Police and Mumbai Police at Bhatt’s sister-in-law’s residence. Rajasthan authorities will now approach the Bandra Court to obtain a transit remand for Bhatt’s transfer to Udaipur.

The lookout notice, issued by Udaipur Police seven days before the arrest, named Bhatt, his wife, and six others allegedly involved in defrauding Dr Ajay Murdia, founder of the Indira Group of Companies. The notice required the accused to report to Udaipur Police by December 8 and prohibited them from travelling abroad without official permission.

Earlier, nearly three weeks before the arrest, an FIR was registered in Udaipur against eight individuals, including Vikram and Shwetambari Bhatt, in relation to a ₹30 crore fraud. The complaint claimed the couple had enticed Dr Murdia with promises of ₹200 crore in potential earnings. The case is being investigated by Bhopalpura Police.

Case details

According to the police report, the complaint, filed by Dr Ajay Murdia of Indira IVF Hospital, named Vikram Bhatt, Shwetambari Bhatt, their daughter Krishna, Dinesh Kataria (Saheli Nagar, Udaipur), producer Mehboob Ansari (Thane), Mudit Butattan (Delhi), Gangeshwar Lal Srivastava (DSC Chairman), and Ashok Dubey (General Secretary, Federation of Western India Cine Employees, Mumbai).

Dr Murdia, who intended to produce a biopic about his late wife, initially approached Dinesh Kataria for guidance. Following Kataria’s suggestion, he visited Vrindavan Studio in Mumbai on April 25, 2024, where Kataria introduced him to Vikram Bhatt.

During the meeting, Bhatt assured Dr Murdia that he would manage all aspects of the filmmaking project and requested financial contributions accordingly. Bhatt also stated that his wife and daughter were actively involved in the venture and had set up a company, VSB LLP, registered in Shwetambari Bhatt’s name.