Alia Bhatt’s former personal assistant, Vedika Prakash Shetty, has been arrested in Bengaluru, six months after a complaint was filed accusing her of fraud and forging the actor’s signature to siphon off a significant amount of money.
Accusations of Fraud and Forgery
The fraud allegations surfaced in January when Alia Bhatt’s mother, veteran actor Soni Razdan, lodged a formal complaint with the Juhu police. Vedika Prakash Shetty, who worked for Alia Bhatt from 2021 until last year, is accused of forging the actor’s signature on various documents.
These alleged forgeries were used to illegally transfer funds totaling Rs 73 lakh from Alia Bhatt’s personal accounts. Furthermore, money was also reportedly siphoned from accounts belonging to her production company, Eternal Sunshine Productions.
The Investigation and Arrest
According to reports, Shetty allegedly routed the stolen funds to a friend’s account, who then transferred the money back to Shetty’s personal account. While the friend has not retained any of the money, they are currently cooperating with the Juhu police to aid in the recovery of the stolen funds.
For months, Shetty had been on the run, eluding authorities. However, the Juhu police successfully traced her location to Bengaluru, leading to her arrest on Tuesday. She has since been presented before the Bandra Magistrate and remanded to police custody until Thursday.
Alia Bhatt’s Production Ventures
Alia Bhatt, alongside her sister Shaheen Bhatt, launched their production house, Eternal Sunshine Productions, in 2022. Their first co-production was the black comedy “Darlings” (2022), which starred Alia herself, along with Vijay Varma, Shefali Shah, and Roshan Mathew, and was released on Netflix India in collaboration with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment.
Last year, Alia also co-produced “Jigra,” an escape thriller, with Karan Johar’s Dharma Productions. She also lent her support to the thriller series “Poacher,” which premiered on Prime Video India.
Key Details of the Case
- Alia Bhatt’s former PA, Vedika Prakash Shetty, arrested in Bengaluru.
- Accused of siphoning Rs 73-77 lakh by forging Alia Bhatt’s signature.
- Complaint filed by Alia’s mother, Soni Razdan, six months prior.
- Funds allegedly routed through a friend’s account before reaching Shetty’s.
Upcoming Projects for Alia Bhatt
On the acting front, Alia Bhatt is set to star in Shiv Rawail’s spy thriller “Alpha,” part of the YRF Spy Universe. The film, also featuring Sharvari, is scheduled for a Christmas release this year.
Looking ahead to next year, Alia will also be seen in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s romantic drama “Love & War,” where she will share the screen with her husband, Ranbir Kapoor, and Vicky Kaushal.
