Vikram Bhatt's wife Shwetambari granted interim bail from Supreme Court of India in cheating case

Vikram Bhatt

Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari Bhatt have been granted interim bail by the Supreme Court of India in a high-profile cheating case involving allegations of misappropriation of funds totalling around Rs 30 crore. The order was passed on Friday by a bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi, bringing temporary relief to the couple after more than two months in custody.

Shwetambari Bhatt gets an interim bail from Supreme Court

The case dates back to December 7, 2025, when the Rajasthan Police arrested the couple in connection with a complaint filed by Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF and Fertility Centre in Udaipur. Murdia alleged that he had invested large sums in what was presented as a legitimate film project. He claimed that money was taken for the production of films but was allegedly diverted through fabricated bills and deposited into personal accounts rather than being used for filmmaking as promised.

Despite their arrest and judicial custody in Udaipur, the Bhatts' initial applications for bail were rejected earlier this year by the Rajasthan High Court, which said that granting bail at that stage could interfere with the ongoing investigation.

All about the case hearing

In the Supreme Court hearing, senior counsel for the couple argued against imprisoning the accused before trial and emphasised that pre-trial detention should not be treated as a means of enforcing financial recovery. The top court agreed in part, observing that criminal proceedings cannot be used simply to recover money and that such cases require careful judicial scrutiny. It directed the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Udaipur to release both Vikram Bhatt and Shwetambari on interim bail after they furnish bail bonds and comply with conditions set by the court. Notices were also issued to the complainant and the Rajasthan government, and the matter is now listed for further hearing on February 19, 2026.

The couple's legal team has consistently denied all allegations, maintaining that funds were used in accordance with agreements and that no fraudulent intent was present. With interim bail secured, they are now out of custody while the legal process continues.