Supreme Court grants bail to filmmaker Vikram Bhatt in cheating case

The Supreme Court on Thursday (February 19, 2026) granted bail to filmmaker Vikram Bhatt in a multi-crore rupees cheating case lodged in Rajasthan.

A Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M, Pancholi also regularised the interim bail granted earlier to Mr. Bhatt’s wife Shwetambari Bhatt in the case.

Shwetambari Bhatt was granted interim bail on February 13.

Earlier on January 31, the Rajasthan High Court had rejected their bail applications in the cheating case.

They were arrested in Mumbai and brought to Udaipur in December last year. While granting bail to both, the top court asked the parties to make efforts for arriving at an amicable solution through mediation.

Complainant Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF and Fertility Centre and a resident of Udaipur, has alleged in his complaint that Mr. Bhatt and his wife induced him to invest over ₹30 crore in a biopic of his late wife, promising high returns.

Vikram Bhatt was arrested after Mr. Murdia filed a complaint of cheating and criminal breach of trust against the filmmaker, his wife and others, alleging that funds taken in the name of a film project were misappropriated.

The complaint has alleged that funds to the tune of ₹30 crore were misappropriated. The complaint alleged that the Bhatts prepared fake bills under various names and got money transferred from the complainant.

The money was supposed to be for making films for the complainant, but was allegedly deposited into the accused’s own accounts and used by them.

Apart from Mr. Vikram and his wife, Udaipur-based Dinesh Kataria and Mr. Bhatt’s manager, Mehboob Ansari, were also arrested by Rajasthan Police on December 7, 2025.