UDAIPUR: Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt and his wife Shwetambari Bhatt were arrested in Mumbai on Sunday in connection with a Rs 30 crore cheating case registered in Udaipur, Rajasthan, police said. The case stems from a complaint filed by Udaipur-based IVF specialist Dr Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF, who has alleged that the couple and six others induced him to invest over Rs 30 crore in a proposed biopic on his late wife, promising high earnings that never materialised. A team of Udaipur Police took the couple into custody and later secured transit remand until 9 December to bring them to Rajasthan for further questioning.

Complaint and investigation

According to the police, Dr Murdia was introduced to the accused through an acquaintance in 2024. An agreement was subsequently drawn up in May that year to produce four films, including the biopic, with a total project value of Rs 47 crore. Investigators say the first two films were produced, but the remaining projects were never completed. The probe has found that the accused allegedly generated fake vendor bills, inflated expenditure vouchers and salary records and siphoned off approximately Rs 30 crore from the investment. Those named in the FIR include Bhatt’s daughter Krishna Bhatt and associates Mehboob Ansari and Dinesh Kataria. Two people had been arrested earlier, police said.

Defence alleges procedural lapses

The couple’s lawyers, Rakesh Singh and Sanjay Singh, told the court that Rajasthan Police had acted “high-handedly”, alleging that the grounds of arrest were not properly communicated and that the accused were forced to sign an undated document. Police have not commented on these allegations.

Next steps

After hearing both sides, the Mumbai court granted transit remand till 9 December, allowing Rajasthan Police to transport the accused by road to Udaipur for further investigation. The case remains under probe, with police examining financial documents and agreements related to the four-film deal.

Filmmaker Vikram Bhatt who is known for making the ‘Raaz’ franchise, ‘Kasoor’, ‘Awara Pagal Deewana’ among othershas reportedly been arrested in a ₹30 crore fraud case. The arrest took place during a joint operation by the Rajasthan Police and Mumbai Police at the home of Bhatt’s sister-in-law. Rajasthan Police will now seek transit remand from the Bandra Court so they can take him to Udaipur for further questioning.This comes after a lookout notice was issued for Bhatt, his wife Shwetambari Bhatt, and six others. They were asked to appear before Udaipur Police by December 8 and were barred from travelling abroad without permission.

The case began when Dr. Ajay Murdia, founder of Indira IVF Hospital, filed a complaint stating that he was convinced to invest more than ₹30 crore in a film project. He was allegedly promised that the profits could go up to ₹200 crore. According to the FIR filed at Bhupalpura Police Station, Bhatt agreed to make a biographical film on Dr. Murdia’s late wife and told him he would handle all the work. He reportedly asked for money as production progressed and said his wife and daughter were involved as associates. A company named VSB LLP was registered under Shwetambari Bhatt’s name for the project.Dr. Murdia had first approached Dinesh Kataria for help, and on Kataria’s advice, he met Bhatt at Vrindavan Studio in Mumbai on April 25, 2023. During this meeting, they discussed making the biopic. The film—titled Tumko Meri Kasam—was eventually released earlier this year, starring Esha Deol and Anupam Kher.In November, Bhatt spoke to NDTV and denied the allegations. He said, “I have read the FIR, and in my view it is misleading. The police have been completely misguided because the things written in the FIR are absolutely wrong.” He further added, “It’s obvious that he must have created some fabricated, forged documents. I don’t know what exactly, but there must be something he used to convince the police.”Bhatt has also claimed that Dr. Murdia suddenly stopped the production of another film titled Virat and failed to pay the technicians involved. The investigation into the case is still underway.

Virat Kohli capped off a sensational return to ODI cricket by choosing his favourite innings from India’s 2-1 series win over South Africa – a series in which he struck 135, 102 and 65 not out and earned his 20th Player of the Series award in international cricket.

Virat Kohli rediscovers vintage form with series-winning brilliance against South Africa

The 36-year-old admitted that the three-match contest marked his most complete batting display in several years, describing the experience as “freeing” and “deeply satisfying.”

“Playing the way I have in this series has been the most satisfying thing for me,” Kohli said after India’s nine-wicket win in the Vizag decider. “I don’t think I have played at this level for a good 2-3 years now. I feel really free in my mind. The whole game is coming together nicely.”

Across the series, Kohli struck 12 sixes, more than any other batter, reflecting a renewed attacking instinct. He said he intentionally pushed his scoring boundaries, allowing himself to take more calculated risks.

Kohli reveals his best knock of the South Africa ODI series

Although all three innings were pivotal, Kohli singled out his 135 at Ranchi, his 52nd ODI hundred, as the standout. That knock set up India’s narrow 17-run win in the series opener and helped unlock the rhythm he felt had been missing from his game.

“I hadn’t played a game since Australia,” Kohli said. “To come out and start hitting the ball well – you just know when your energy is right on the day. It gives you confidence to take risks. When they come off, it unlocks that zone as a batsman which you crave for. Ranchi was very special because it opened me up in a way I hadn’t felt for a while.”

Kohli explained that the emotional and technical clarity he felt in Ranchi carried through the rest of the series, allowing him to bat with fluency and power.

Kohli opens up about his mental battle against batting

Reflecting on a career that has spanned nearly 16 years, Kohli acknowledged that even the greatest players experience periods of uncertainty.

“When you play for that long, you’re going to have phases where you doubt your ability,” he said. “As a batsman you’re relying on one mistake – that’s all it takes. So you tend to go into a space where you feel maybe you’re not good enough. The nerves take over. That’s the beauty of sport.”

Also READ: Fans go gaga as Yashasvi Jaiswal’s maiden century and Virat Kohli’s brilliance lead India to an emphatic ODI series win over South Africa

Kohli said overcoming that fear is part of the craft: “Every ball you play, and eventually every long innings, helps you get back into that confident zone. It’s a journey of learning and getting to know yourself better.”

He added that batting has played a major role in shaping who he is: “It improves you as a person. Your temperament becomes more balanced. Yes, I’ve had phases where I’ve doubted myself, and I’m not shy to admit it. It’s human.”

With his form peaking again, Kohli’s recent performance suggests a reinvigorated chapter in his ODI journey – and a reminder of why he remains one of cricket’s most feared big-match players.

Also READ: When will Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli play their next game for Team India?

Smriti Mandhana and Palash Muchhal

Indian women’s cricket team vice-captain Smriti Mandhana has officially addressed the end of her engagement with music composer Palash Muchhal, ending weeks of social media speculation.Mandhana shared her statement on Instagram, marking her first public response to the situation.“I need to clarify that the wedding is called off. I would like to close this matter here and implore all of you to do the same. Over the past few weeks there has been plenty of speculation around my life, and I feel it is important for me to speak out at this time,” she wrote. “I believe there is a higher purpose driving us all and for me that has always been representing my country at the highest level. I hope to continue to play and win trophies for India for as long as possible.“Thank you for all your support. It’s time to move forward.”

Smriti Mandhana’s post

The wedding was initially scheduled for November 23 but was postponed after Mandhana’s father, Shriniwas, was hospitalised due to a heart condition. Palash Muchhal also shared his perspective on Instagram regarding the situation.“I have decided to move on in my life and step back from my personal relationship. Its been very difficult for me to see people react so easily on baseless rumours about something which has been most sacred to me. Its the most difficult phase of my life and I will deal with it gracefully holding on to my beliefs.“I truly hope we, as a society, learn to pause before judging someone based on unverified gossip, whose sources are never identified. Our words can wound in ways we may never understand. While we think about these things, many people in the world are facing drastic consequences. My team will be taking strict legal action against those spreading false and defamatory content.

Palash Muchhal’s post

“Thank you to everyone who has stood by me with kindness in this tough time.”Both individuals have expressed their desire to move forward and requested privacy during this period.

NAGPUR: Amid mass cancellations of IndiGo flights, chairperson of the Maharashtra Legislative Council, Ram Shinde, on Sunday said special trains will be operated from Nagpur to Mumbai on December 14 and 15 to facilitate the return of MLAs, ministers, officers, and staff after the conclusion of the winter session, which will be held in Nagpur from December 8 to 14. Speaking to the media about the arrangements in Vidhan Bhavan, Shinde said several elected representatives faced difficulty securing flights to reach Nagpur, raising concern over their travel back to Mumbai. “To avoid inconvenience, the state govt requested the Railways to arrange special trains, and the appeal has been accepted. A nodal officer has been appointed to coordinate communication with all legislators for seamless travel arrangements,” Shinde said adding that the administration has been instructed to monitor and respond to travel-related concerns throughout the session actively. On appointment of leader of opposition (LoP) in both Houses, Shinde said they received a proposal and will take a decision only after further deliberation. On Sunday, opposition parties boycotted the CM’s customary tea party on the session’s even over vacant posts of LoP in both Houses. Reacting to rumours that the winter session may not happen in Nagpur due to expansion work of the Vidhan Bhavan complex, both Shinde and deputy chairperson Neelam Gorhe said the city will continue to host the session. Shinde also said that matters concerning Vidarbha will receive top priority in the upcoming legislative business, including during the Question Hour. On concerns over the short 8-day session, Shinde said as presiding officer, he will strive to facilitate meaningful debate on regional concerns. Following the review meeting, Shinde and Gorhe inspected both Houses and related facilities to ensure operational readiness for the seesion.

BENGALURU: Builders must insure common areas or risk footing the bill for disaster repairs – that is the message from Karnataka Real Estate Regulatory Authority (K-Rera).In a recent order, the authority directed the developers of an apartment complex on Kanakapura Road to furnish all insurance documents for the project within 30 days, while partly allowing a complaint linked to a fire that damaged the clubhouse of Block 4.The case arose from a fire on Jan 30, 2024, when resident Dhananjaya noticed smoke coming from the clubhouse. The blaze destroyed the ladies’ washroom and sauna facility. He told the tribunal that no repair or restoration work was taken up despite repeated requests.

He further said that although all blocks were ready, the promoter had not formed the association of allottees or transferred the common areas as required under Rera. They also alleged that the promoter had not shared any insurance details under Section 16, raising concern about whether the clubhouse had any cover at all. Dhananjaya filed a complaint on May 4, 2024, seeking directions to restore the damaged clubhouse and hand over all insurance documents to the association.Insurance must for common areas: PanelThe builders rejected all claims. They said the clubhouse and shared amenities were handed over to the apartment owners’ association on Nov 2, 2019. Once that transfer was completed, responsibility for safety and maintenance rested with the association, not the promoter.The builders relied on an inquiry commissioned by the association, which found that the fire was caused by overheating of the sauna heater and not by any structural or electrical defect. They pointed out that the complainant had not named the association as a party to the case despite its role in day-to-day upkeep.After examining the submissions, the tribunal accepted the findings of the inquiry report and held that the promoter cannot be directed to carry out repairs for an incident that occurred years after handover.However, the panel drew a firm line on the insurance lapse. It noted that the promoter had not submitted any insurance policies, premium receipts, or records showing transfer of insurance benefits to the association, all of which are mandatory under Section 16 of Rera. It observed that “insurance for common areas is mandatory under Rera”, adding that residents cannot be left to bear losses that should have been insured against.

Music composer Palash Muchhal and cricketer Smriti Mandhana were supposed to get married on November 24, 2025. However, just a few hours ahead of the wedding, the ceremony was postponed, as Smriti’s father had a health scare and was hospitalised. A day later, Palash was also hospitalised, reportedly owing to chest pain and trouble breathing. For days, several speculations were circulating regarding whether there would be a wedding or not. On Sunday, in separate statements, both Palash Mucchal and Smriti Mandhana clarified that their wedding has been called off. Following the clarification, the composer Palash Muchhal has deleted the proposal video from his social media handle.

Palash Muchhal deletes the proposal video and the World Cup-winning celebration video with Smriti Mandhana

After releasing the statement that the wedding has been called off, Palash Muchhal and Smriti Mandhana unfollowed each other on social media. Smriti deleted all pictures and clips of their pre-wedding festivities, along with the proposal video and other posts. And now, Palash Mucchal has deleted posts with Smriti Mandhana – the proposal video and the World Cup victory celebration clip. However, he hasn’t removed all the posts as of now. The composer has been receiving hate from the netizens in the comment section of the posts that are still available on his account.

Palash Muchhal and Smriti Mandhana’s wedding called off – Official statements

Putting a rest to all the rumours surrounding their marriage, Palash Muchhal on Sunday shared a statement on social media that read, “I have decided to move on in my life and step back from my personal relationship.”

“It’s been very difficult for me to see people react so easily on baseless rumours about something which has been most sacred to me. It’s the most difficult phase of my life, and I will deal with it gracefully, holding on to my beliefs. I truly hope we, as a society, learn to pause before judging someone based on unverified gossip, whose sources are never identified. Our words can wound in ways we may never understand,” he concluded.Smriti also shared a statement confirming that the wedding has been called off. She wrote, “Over the past few weeks, there has been plenty of speculation around my life, and I feel it is important for me to speak out at this time. I am a very private person, and I would like to keep it that way, but I need to clarify that the wedding is called off.” “I would like to close this matter here and implore all of you to do the same. I request you to please respect the privacy of both families at this time and allow us the space to process and move on at our own pace,” she added.

“I believe there is a higher purpose driving us all, and for me, that has always been representing my country at the highest level. I hope to continue to play and win trophies for India for as long as possible, and that is where my focus will forever be. Thank you for all your support. It’s time to move forward,” she concluded.