Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt
Credit: X/@MissMalini
Jodhpur: The Rajasthan High Court on Saturday rejected the bail applications of filmmaker Vikram Bhatt, his wife and two others who are in jail in a cheating case.
Justice Vinod Kumar Bharwani observed that granting bail to the accused at this stage would not be appropriate.
During the hearing, the Special Public Prosecutor (SPP) opposed the bail applications, arguing that the investigation in the case is still ongoing and further interrogation of the accused is required.
The SPP said that if the applicants are released on bail at this stage, they may influence witnesses.
Indira IVF and Fertility Centre founder Ajay Murdia, a resident of Udaipur, had lodged a complaint of cheating and criminal breach of trust against Vikram Bhatt, his wife Shwetambari Bhatt and others, alleging that funds taken in the name of a film project were misappropriated.
It is alleged that the Bhatts prepared fake bills under different names and got money transferred from the complainant. This money, which was meant for making films, was allegedly deposited into their own accounts and used by them.
A case was registered in November 2025 and the police arrested the couple, Udaipur-based Dinesh Kataria and Bhatt’s manager, Mehboob Ansari, from Mumbai on December 7 and brought them to Udaipur.
Bhatt’s lawyer Kamlesh Dave had alleged that the entire police action was taken “based only on the FIR and not documents”.
“Every payment was made in the knowledge of both parties. There were no such fake or bogus bills. The agreement was done to make two films first and another two on rolling finance,” he had claimed.
Bhatt had earlier moved a petition in the high court seeking quashing of the FIR, contending that the dispute was of a civil nature, not criminal.
But the high court had rejected his petition, observing that the matter was not just a breach of contract and civil in nature but prima facie involved misappropriation of funds, and, therefore, the police investigation will continue.