Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt is at the centre of a widening police investigation after he, along with his wife Shwetambari and daughter Krishna, was arrested in connection with an alleged 30 crore cheating case linked to a proposed biopic project.
Rajasthan and Mumbai police detained the three from a relative’s home following a complaint filed by Udaipur resident Ajay Murdia, who claims he was misled into funding a film about his late wife. According to police officials, Murdia approached Udaipur-based Dinesh Kataria earlier this year with the intention of developing the project, which eventually led to a meeting with Bhatt in Mumbai on April 25, 2024.
Murdia alleges that Bhatt agreed to take the lead on the production and assured him that his wife and daughter would also be involved. He further claims he was instructed to transfer funds to facilitate the work, after which communication reportedly grew complicated and financial discrepancies surfaced.
Police have confirmed that notices were served to Bhatt and the other named individuals last week, directing them to appear before investigators by December 8 and restricting international travel without permission.
Alongside the director and his family, the complaint also names Kataria, Mehboob Ansari, Mudit Butattan, Gangeshwar Lal Srivastava and Ashok Dubey.
While the case has drawn significant attention due to Bhatt’s standing in the Hindi film industry, officers say the investigation remains focused on verifying the financial trail and establishing the extent of involvement of each accused. Further questioning is expected in the coming days.
