Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari have secured a pivotal victory from India’s top court, bagging regular bail in a sensational Rs 30 crore fraud litigation. The Supreme Court, in a nuanced judgment, advocated for out-of-court settlement via mediation while freeing the couple from custody.
The saga unfolded when Udaipur-based IVF pioneer Dr. Ajay Murdia invested heavily in Bhatt’s ventures—a biopic honoring his late wife plus three others—lured by visions of blockbuster returns. Reality bit hard: shoots sputtered, films gathered dust, and pleas for money back were dodged.
Detained since early December after Rajasthan High Court rebuff, Bhatt approached the apex court. Interim bail followed on February 13 amid sharp judicial observations that jail terms don’t yield recoveries, coupled with police directives.
Thursday brought final relief, nullifying the high court order and delegating bail specifics to local judiciary. This case spotlights the friction between aggressive policing in white-collar crimes and constitutional rights.
Murdia’s Indira Group thrives nationwide, originating in Udaipur’s medical landscape. His personal project turned nightmare, forcing legal recourse.
Shadowing this is another indictment: Bhatt and daughter accused in a Rs 13.5 crore swindle by a separate entrepreneur, hinting at systemic issues in cinema funding.
With bail in hand, the focus shifts to mediation’s potential. Bollywood grapples with investor trust erosion, as courts nudge dialogue over deadlock.