Mumbai Police have apprehended Vedika Prakash Shetty, the former personal assistant of Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, for allegedly embezzling ₹76.9 lakh from the actress's personal accounts and her production company, Eternal Sunshine Productions.
The alleged fraud occurred over a two-year period, from May 2022 to August 2024.
Shetty created fake invoices for supposed professional expenses, including travel, events, and meetings, and got them signed by Alia Bhatt. She then transferred the funds to an associate's account, who would funnel the money back into her account.
The matter came to light after Alia Bhatt's mother, Soni Razdan, filed a police complaint in January. A thorough investigation revealed the extent of the embezzlement.
Reportedly, Shetty was arrested in Bengaluru and brought to Mumbai on a five-day transit remand. She has been remanded to police custody until July 10.
Shetty has been charged under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for cheating and criminal breach of trust.
Alia Bhatt has not issued an official statement regarding the arrest. She is currently working on her upcoming projects, including the spy thriller "Alpha" and Sanjay Leela Bhansali's "Love and War".