By Parmod Kumar
New Delhi, Feb 19 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Thursday granted regular bail to filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari Bhatt in a Rs 30 crore alleged cheating case registered in Rajasthan, setting aside the Rajasthan High Court’s order rejecting their plea.
A Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul M. Pancholi allowed the appeal after noting that the couple was willing to cooperate with the investigation. Shwetambari Bhatt had earlier been granted interim bail by the top court.
While granting relief, the court observed that although the FIR invoked provisions relating to criminal cheating, the dispute appeared to arise out of a commercial transaction. It suggested that the matter be amicably resolved through mediation.
“Dispute is on a commercial transaction. Though the ingredients of cheating, etc. is mentioned in the FIR. Appropriate course will be to resolve the dispute in the aegis of mediation. Regular bail has been granted with the expectation that appellants shall act in a bona fide manner and make efforts for amicable resolution of commercial dispute,” the court said.
During the hearing, senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for the Bhatts, informed the bench that remarks had been made in the Rajasthan Legislative Assembly questioning the Supreme Court’s grant of interim bail.
“Majesty of this court was questioned… In the Rajasthan assembly, a question was raised, how this court granted interim bail. We have the video as well,” Dave submitted.
Taking serious note, the court warned against any attempt to influence the proceedings and indicated it would not hesitate to transfer the case out of the state if required.
“We know how to take stern action. If any of your machinery tries to do any misadventure… We will transfer everything to Mumbai.. no one should be in the mistaken belief that just because you are speaking in the assembly, you will be exempted from any action. We know what to do then,” the bench cautioned.
The case stems from allegations by Dr. Ajay Murdia of the Indira Group that funds meant for film production were misused. The couple was arrested in December 2025 and later denied bail by the High Court, prompting their appeal to the Supreme Court.
