The Supreme Court of India has granted interim bail to Shwetambari Bhatt, wife of filmmaker Vikram Bhatt, in a cheating and fraud case involving alleged financial irregularities linked to film investments.
A bench comprising Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi passed the order while hearing a plea challenging the Rajasthan High Court’s earlier refusal to grant bail. The top court directed that Shwetambari Bhatt be released on interim bail upon furnishing the required bond and scheduled the matter for further hearing later this month. Notices were also issued to the Rajasthan government and the complainant.
The case arises from a complaint filed by Dr Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF, who alleged that he was induced to invest around ₹30 crore in film projects that were either delayed or not completed as agreed. The complaint claims that funds meant for film production were diverted through fabricated invoices and improper transactions.
Vikram Bhatt and Shwetambari Bhatt were arrested in December 2025 and had been in judicial custody since then. Their earlier bail pleas were rejected by the Rajasthan High Court, which observed that the allegations were serious in nature.
During the hearing in the Supreme Court, senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the accused, argued that the matter stemmed from a commercial agreement that did not work out as expected. He submitted that criminal proceedings were being used to recover money arising from a business dispute. The bench also noted concerns about invoking criminal law in cases that appear to involve contractual disagreements.
While interim relief has been granted to Shwetambari Bhatt, the court is expected to take up related pleas, including that of Vikram Bhatt, in the coming hearings.
Also Read: India up 10 spots in 2026 passport index
