'Resolve Disputes Through Mediation', Suggests SC While Granting Bail to Bollywood Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt

Udaipur, Feb 19 2026: A week after granting Interim Bail to Shwetambari Bhatt, the Supreme Court granted regular bail to both Shwetambari and her husband Vikram Bhatt in the Rs 30 Crore fraud case initiatied by Udaipur's Dr Ajay Murdia.

On Thursday, Feb 19, the Supreme Court granted bail to Bollywood filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, who were held in custody by Udaipur Police since December 2025. A team of Udaipur Police, under Udaipur DSP Chhagan Purohit had arrested the couple in December last year, from their home in Mumbai, following an FIR by Udaipur based Dr Murdia, the owner of Indira IVF.

The Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Vipul Pancholi and Justice Joymala Bagchi set aside the order of the Rajasthan High Court, which had denied bail to the Bhatt couple. The bench concurred that the matter was related to a commercial dispute and directed both the parties to appear before the Supreme Court Mediation Centre and explore the possibility of a mutual settlement.

"It seems to us that dispute essentially pertains to a commercial transaction, though the ingredients of committing offence of cheating etc have been expressly mentioned in the FIR. Be that as it may, it may be appropriate for the parties to resolve the disputes through mediation. The regular bail has been granted with the expectation that the appellants will try and make efforts for the amicable resolution of the dispute" - Supreme Court order

The counsel for Dr Murdia, Sr Advocate Vikas Singh neither objected to the grant of bail nor to exploring the possibility of a mediated settlement. The case has drawn political attention in Rajasthan, with the issue being raised in the state assembly. The investigation however, is ongoing.

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