Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari were arrested by Rajasthan Police in connection with a Rs 30 crore fraud case. A police team arrested the couple from their sister-in-law’s residence in Mumbai and brought them to Udaipur on Monday night. The police have secured their transit remand until Thursday.
When Vikram Bhatt and Shwetambari arrived in Udaipur with the police, they were seen shielding their faces from the media.
“We have arrested both the accused from Mumbai and brought them to Udaipur. They will be produced in court tomorrow morning for further legal proceedings," Investigating Officer DSP Chhagan Purohit told reporters on Monday night.
Given the gravity of the case, the police are now meticulously examining documentary evidence and financial transactions.
Police have taken the filmmaker and his wife into custody and conducted medical examinations for both of them. Officials had previously issued notices to six accused in the case for the second time. They were given time until December 8 to appear before the police.
The alleged Rs 30 crore fraud targeted Indira IVF founder Dr Ajay Murdia and was reportedly carried out under the pretext of producing a biopic on his late wife. The police have named Vikram Bhatt as the main accused in the case.
Vikram had earlier spoken out after an FIR was registered against him and seven others, including Shwetambari, in connection with the case. The complaint, filed by Murdia in Udaipur, accuses the filmmaker and his associates of financial wrongdoing and false promises.
Murdia alleged that he was convinced to finance a film based on his late wife’s life, reportedly receiving promises that the venture would yield profits of approximately Rs 200 crore. Mehboob and Dinesh Kataria have also been cited in the formal complaint.
In a recent interview, Vikram Bhatt said that he is ready to cooperate fully with the investigation and provide evidence to support his statements.
