Mumbai: Mumbai Police have arrested Vedika Prakash Shetty, former personal assistant to Bollywood actor Alia Bhatt, on charges of defrauding the actor of Rs 76.9 lakh over a two-year period.
Shetty was taken into custody in Bengaluru on Tuesday and brought to Mumbai on a five-day transit remand.
The financial misappropriation reportedly took place between May 2022 and August 2024.
According to officials at Juhu Police Station, Shetty had been working with Bhatt from 2021 to 2024.
During that time, she allegedly created fake invoices for supposed professional expenses, including travel, events, and meetings.
She is accused of misleading Bhatt into signing these invoices under the pretext of regular reimbursements.
Once signed, Shetty reportedly transferred the funds to an associate, who would then funnel the money back into her account.
The matter came to light earlier this year when Bhatt’s mother, Soni Razdan—director of Eternal Sunshine Productions Pvt. Ltd.—filed a police complaint in January.
Shetty has been charged under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including cheating and criminal breach of trust.
She was produced before a magistrate court on Tuesday and has been remanded in police custody until Thursday. Police said further investigation is underway.
