Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and Wife Shwetambari Granted Bail After 67 Days in Custody in ₹30 Crore Fraud Case

Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari Bhatt have been granted bail in a high-profile ₹30 crore fraud case, ending their 67-day stint in Udaipur jail. The Supreme Court ordered their release on Friday, with clear directions on the terms and conditions of their bail.

Supreme Court Intervention

A bench comprising Chief Justice Suryakant and Justice Joymaly Bagchi instructed the Chief Judicial Magistrate to issue the bail order and clarified the terms under which the couple would be released. Notices have also been issued to the complainant, Ajay Murdia, and the Government of Rajasthan, scheduling the next hearing for February 19, 2026.

Lawyer’s Statement

Vikram Bhatt’s lawyer, Mukul Rohatgi, argued in court that it was not justified to detain both the director and his wife in jail before the completion of legal proceedings. The opposing counsel contended that the matter was serious, given the ₹30 crore fraud allegations.

The bench, however, emphasized that such cases should not be misused as a tool to forcibly extract money. Vikram and Shwetambari were released on interim bail, under a surety bond, with Ajay Murdia formally included as a respondent in the case.

Arrest and Custody

The Bhatt couple was arrested in Mumbai and transferred to Udaipur Jail in December 2025, remaining in custody since December 7, 2025. Alongside them, Dinesh Kataria from Usipur and Bhatt’s manager Mahboob Ansari were also detained by the Rajasthan Police.

On January 31, 2026, the Rajasthan High Court had rejected their earlier bail plea, citing the gravity of the ₹30 crore fraud allegations.

Fraud Allegations

The complaint, filed by Ajay Murdia, alleges that Vikram, Shwetambari, and associates misappropriated ₹30 crore collected under the pretext of film production. The complainant claims that fake bills were created in multiple names and that the money was deposited into private accounts for personal use.

Further, in January 2026, a businessman accused the Bhatt couple and their daughter, Krishna Bhatt Sarada, of defrauding him of ₹13.5 crore. The case is registered at Versova Police Station, Mumbai, with the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) overseeing the investigation.