In a dramatic escalation to a case that has gripped both the film and medical industries, filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has reportedly been arrested in connection with a ₹30 crore IVF-fraud investigation. The arrest comes just days after a lookout notice was issued against Bhatt, his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, and six others accused in the high-value case.
🚨 Arrest Conducted in Joint Police Operation
According to initial reports, the filmmaker was taken into custody in a joint operation between the Rajasthan Police and Mumbai Police at the residence of his sister-in-law.
Rajasthan Police are expected to seek transit remand from the Bandra Court to move Bhatt to Udaipur, where the complaint was originally filed and the investigation is underway.
The arrest follows a lookout notice issued seven days earlier, requiring all accused individuals to appear before Udaipur Police by December 8 and restricting any international travel without prior permission.
🕵️♂️ The Fraud Allegations
The case centres around a complaint filed by Dr Ajay Murdia, the founder of the Indira IVF Group, who alleges that Bhatt, his wife, and others defrauded him of ₹30 crore.
The FIR, registered nearly 20 days ago, accuses the group of promising Dr Murdia a ₹200 crore return from a film project based on the life of his late wife.
According to the complaint:
- Dr Murdia first connected with co-accused Dinesh Kataria, who encouraged him to pursue the biopic.
- On April 25, 2024, Dr Murdia visited Vrindavan Studio in Mumbai, where Kataria introduced him to Vikram Bhatt.
- Bhatt reportedly assured him that he would oversee the entire filmmaking process.
- He also stated that his wife and daughter were involved in the project, operating under a firm, VSB LLP, registered in Shwetambari Bhatt’s name.
- Based on these assurances, payments were allegedly made, which later led to claims of deception and criminal misappropriation.
The case is being handled by the Bhopalpura Police, who have been gathering documents, financial evidence, and communication records to piece together the alleged scam.
👥 Who Else Is Named in the FIR?
Along with Vikram and Shwetambari Bhatt, the FIR includes several others:
- Krishna (their daughter, Mumbai)
- Dinesh Kataria (Udaipur)
- Mehboob Ansari (producer, Thane)
- Mudit Buttattan (Delhi)
- Gangeshwar Lal Srivastava (DSC Chairman)
- Ashok Dubey (General Secretary, FWICE, Mumbai)
All eight individuals are being investigated for their alleged roles in the fraud.
🎬 The Biopic That Never Materialised
The alleged scam began with Dr Murdia’s desire to create a tribute film about his late wife. What he believed would be an emotional, personal project spiralled into a dispute involving multiple parties, financial transfers, and claims of false promises.
Investigators allege that Bhatt and associates solicited money under the pretext of production work — work that, according to the complaint, never took shape.
📝 Final Words
The arrest marks a significant turn in the case, which blends the worlds of Bollywood, business, and medical entrepreneurship. As the investigation continues in Udaipur, more details are expected to surface about the alleged ₹30 crore fraud, the involvement of all accused, and the financial trail behind the aborted biopic project.
For now, the filmmaker finds himself at the centre of a legal storm that shows no signs of slowing.
