Vikram Bhatt Arrested In Mumbai In ₹30 Crore Fraud Case

Director Vikram Bhatt has been arrested by the Rajasthan police in a case related to alleged fraud of ₹30 crore. A lookout notice for Vikram was issued a week ago and following the investigation, he was taken into custody. The director was arrested from the Yari Road area in ​Mumbai. The FIR also names Vikram's wife, Shwetambari, along with six other people.

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What is the alleged fraud case against Vikram Bhatt?

According to the complaint, Dr Ajay Murdia. founder of Indira IVF, was allegedly persuaded by Vikram Bhatt into investing more than ₹30 crore in a proposed film project after being assured that the venture would yield profits of nearly ₹200 crore. The FIR states that the project was presented as a biopic intended to honour Dr Murdia’s late wife. Along with Vikram, the FIR lists individuals identified as Mehboob and Dinesh Kataria. 

Vikram Bhatt has denied fraud allegations

Responding to the allegations, Vikram Bhatt had earlier said that the police is being misled. "So I read the entire FIR. Now, to be honest, I feel that the Rajasthan Police is being misled. As far as my question is concerned, I don't know. I have been told that there is NC first. I have not received anything like that. So first, I thought it would be NC. But now I have come to know that it is an FIR," Vikram told ANI. 

He added, “So I have neither a letter, nor a notice, nor anything. And they say that out of greed for 200 crores, I made a scam of 30 crores. If they have told this to the police, then surely they must have some documents, some paperwork. Otherwise, the police don't do such things. So, if that is the case, then it is forged. It cannot be.” Vikram questioned the claims, saying, "I read in the FIR, they have written that they are not from this industry, and they don't know the work of the industry. So, I would like to ask: if this is the case, then why did they leave me and start so many films?" 

"They are doing so many films. So I think that the budgets I had given them, I used to shoot my films on a green screen. They wanted me to do it in real. So the budget will go up. Hum log 'Tumko Meri Kasam' jo film thi uske premiere ke liye Udaipur gaye the aur ye Sunday ki hi baat aur Friday ko film release huyi thi. Then I came to know that their IPO is forthcoming, and under their IPO, you cannot release this film, as it is for personal promotion and against SEBI rules. So they pushed their IPO," Vikram said, defending himself.

The filmmaker also denied any wrongdoing, saying, "After that, we were making a film, 'Viraat'. 'Viraat' was doing well. Now if I have made you a fool, then why are you making a third film with me? And this 'Viraat' film, they stopped it in the middle. And I doubt that they stopped it, because they applied for the IPO again. And I think they did not want to be associated with the film industry. But the thing is that they did not pay my workers. And all this I am telling you, I have it in emails, I have it in contracts."