Rajasthan High Court Reserves Verdict On Film-Maker Vikram Bhatt's Plea To Quash FIR Over ₹42 Crore Alleged Cheating Case
The Rajasthan High Court reserved verdict on a plea moved by producer and film-maker Vikram Bhatt seeking quashing of an FIR for allegedly cheating the complainant of Rs. 42 crore and had taken advances under the garb of making films. The FIR was registered against Bhatt following his arrest on December 7. Justice Sameer Jain was hearing pleas by two petitioners Vikram Bhatt and Gangeshwar...
The Rajasthan High Court reserved verdict on a plea moved by producer and film-maker Vikram Bhatt seeking quashing of an FIR for allegedly cheating the complainant of Rs. 42 crore and had taken advances under the garb of making films.
The FIR was registered against Bhatt following his arrest on December 7.
Justice Sameer Jain was hearing pleas by two petitioners Vikram Bhatt and Gangeshwar Lal Shrivastava.
The matter relates to a contract signed between the petitioners–Bhatt and Gangeshwar Lal Shrivastava and the complainant for making two films under which a consideration of Rs. 42 Crores was paid by the complainant to the petitioners. The FIR alleged that there were exaggerated expenses being carried out by the petitioners, and hence, the offence of breach of trust and cheating was committed.
On the contrary, it was argued on behalf of the petitioners, that the matter pertained to a contractual dispute of purely civil nature. The two films for which the contract was entered into were already released as per the contract.
Further it was submitted against the police authorities that there was malafide and misuse of power involved in the civil dispute by way of registration of FIR against the petitioners. The counsel argued that no preliminary enquiry was conducted in the matter, and Supreme Court guidelines were violated for making these arrests.
Meanwhile IGP Udaipur Range on behalf of the Superintendent of Police, Udaipur and the concerned Investigating Officer who were present before the Court had submitted that preliminary enquiry as per the procedure prescribed by law were duly carried out in the instant matters. It is further submitted that the petitioners were served well in advance through e-mail before the arrest. Moreover, it is submitted that the petitioners had carried out exaggerated and bogus expenses with the amount advanced under the garb of making films.
The Court heard extensive arguments from all sides, including that of the police authorities who submitted that the preliminary enquiry was carried out as per the prescribed procedure. At the same time, the petitioners were served well in advance by way of email before making the arrests.
After hearing all the contentions, the Court gave the opportunity to the parties to submit written submission and reserved the order.
Title: Gangeshwar Lal Shrivastava v State of Rajasthan and
Vikram Bhatt v State of Rajasthan
S.B. Criminal Misc(Pet.) No. 10167/2025
Citation: 2025 LiveLaw (Raj) 421