Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt has landed in another serious legal scrape, with Mumbai Police registering a fresh fraud/cheating case against him and his daughter, Krishna Bhatt—also known as Krishna Bhatt Sarda.
According to the complaint cited by police sources, a Pune-based film financier, Shivraj Prithviraj Khawade, has alleged that Bhatt induced him to invest in upcoming film projects by promising high returns and that ₹13.5 crore was taken from him in 2021 with assurances of profits within a stipulated period.
The complainant further alleges that despite repeated follow-ups over the years, neither the principal nor the promised profit was returned, and that he was allegedly kept on hold with explanations such as production delays and financial constraints.
IPC 420 Invoked; Case Registered at Versova Police Station
A senior police official, as quoted in reports, confirmed that an FIR has been registered under Section 420 (cheating) of the IPC against Vikram Bhatt and Krishna Bhatt at Versova Police Station.
EOW Steps In: Probe Moves to Financial-Crime Mode
Given the magnitude of the alleged fraud, the investigation has been transferred to the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Mumbai Police—a shift that typically means sharper scrutiny of documents, banking trails, agreements, and end-use of funds.
Why This Case Is Being Watched: “Another” Fraud Allegation
This FIR is drawing extra attention because it follows close on the heels of Bhatt’s earlier legal trouble. Times of India reports that Bhatt was arrested by Rajasthan Police last month in a separate alleged ₹30 crore cheating case, compounding the spotlight on him.
Separately, other reports also frame the latest complaint as involving money allegedly sought for cinema and related ventures with promised returns, now under EOW’s lens.
What Happens Next
With EOW handling the probe, the next phase usually revolves around paper trails—who paid whom, on what terms, and what was delivered (or not). Investigators are also examining whether other investors were similarly approached with comparable promises tied to film projects.
By – Juhi