Vikram Bhatt Secures Supreme Court Bail in ₹30 Crore Legal Thriller

In a dramatic legal turn that mirrors the high-stakes plots of his own films, veteran Bollywood director Vikram Bhatt and his wife, Shwetambari Bhatt, have been granted regular bail by the Supreme Court of India. The ruling, delivered on February 19, 2026, offers a significant reprieve to the couple, who had been behind bars since their arrest in December 2025.

The Plot: A Biopic Gone Wrong

The case centers on a financial fallout between the filmmaker and Dr. Ajay Murdia, the founder of Indira IVF.

• The Deal: In late 2024, Murdia reportedly entered into a contract with Bhatt’s production house to create four projects, including a deeply personal biopic of Murdia’s late wife.
• The Allegation: Murdia alleged that while he invested over ₹30 crore (with some reports suggesting the total agreement reached ₹47 crore), the projects failed to materialize as promised. He claimed the Bhatts used fake bills and vouchers to siphoned funds into their own accounts rather than the film production.
• The Arrest: Following an FIR lodged at the Bhupalpura Police Station in Udaipur, Rajasthan, the couple was arrested in Mumbai on December 7, 2025, and subsequently lodged in Jodhpur Central Jail.

The Legal Climax: Supreme Court Intervention

The Rajasthan High Court had previously denied bail to the duo on January 31, citing the ongoing investigation. However, a Supreme Court bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant took a different view:

1. “Commercial, Not Criminal”: The CJI observed that the dispute appeared to be a commercial transaction rather than a purely criminal offense. Even though the FIR alleged “cheating,” the court noted that the essence of the fight was over contractual obligations.
2. The “Work in Progress” Defense: Bhatt’s counsel, Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, argued that out of the four contracted films, two were already complete and a third was 70% finished. He contended that keeping Bhatt in custody would ensure the films—and the investor’s money—stayed stuck forever.
3. Mediation Over Incarceration: In a classic “let’s talk it out” directive, the bench referred both parties to the Supreme Court Mediation Centre. The bail was granted with the explicit expectation that both sides would attempt an amicable settlement.

“Nobody should be under the mistaken belief that because you can speak in the assembly… the law will not take its own course.” > — CJI Surya Kant, warning against the use of political influence after reports surfaced of the case being discussed in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly.

The Current Status

While the Bhatts are now out on bail, they aren’t entirely in the clear. The Supreme Court clarified that the investigation will continue independently. Furthermore, the complainant’s legal team pointed out another pending FIR against Bhatt in Mumbai, alleging his company is in financial distress.

For now, the director of Raaz and 1920 has traded the jail cell for the mediation table, hoping to resolve a real-life drama that has proven more taxing than any horror script he has ever written.