Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife, Shwetambari Bhatt, have been granted regular bail by the Supreme Court after spending over two months in judicial custody. The couple had been held at Jodhpur Central Jail following their arrest in December 2025 by the Rajasthan Police.
The Biopic Dispute
The case centers on a legal battle with Dr. Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF. Murdia alleged that the Bhatts induced him to invest over ₹30 crore into a biopic of his late wife, alongside a four-film production deal valued at roughly ₹47 crore.
- The Allegation: Murdia claimed that while significant funds were transferred, the promised films did not materialize, and the money was allegedly diverted through fake bills and vouchers into personal accounts.
- The Defense: Bhatt’s legal team argued that the dispute is purely commercial and that the projects were in various stages of completion. They maintained that “directors should not be jailed because films flop” and that two of the agreed films had already been finished.
Supreme Court’s Intervention
A bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant set aside the Rajasthan High Court’s earlier order denying them bail. The apex court made several key observations:
- Commercial Nature: The court noted that while the FIR mentions cheating, the root of the issue is a commercial transaction rather than a purely criminal act.
- Mediation Ordered: In a move to settle the matter out of court, the SC directed both parties to appear before the Supreme Court Mediation Centre to resolve the payment dispute amicably.
- Release: Shwetambari Bhatt had received interim relief on February 13, and this latest ruling regularizes her bail while ensuring Vikram Bhatt’s release.
Looming Legal Shadows
Despite this relief, the filmmaker’s legal troubles are not over. During the hearing, the complainant’s counsel pointed out that a separate FIR has been registered in Mumbai. In January 2026, the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) booked Vikram and his daughter, Krishna Bhatt, for allegedly defrauding a Pune-based businessman of ₹13.5 crore in a separate investment deal.