Alia Bhatt’s personal assistant, Vedika Prakash Shetty, has been arrested for allegedly defrauding the actress of Rs 77 lakh. The 32-year-old is accused of financial misconduct involving Rs 76.9 lakh from Bhatt’s production company, Eternal Sunshine Productions Private Limited, and her personal accounts. The fraud reportedly took place between May 2022 and August 2024.

The incident came to light when Alia Bhatt’s mother, Soni Razdan, filed a complaint with the Juhu police on January 23. Following the complaint, a case was registered under sections related to criminal breach of trust and cheating. The police then began their search for Vedika Shetty.

Vedika Shetty served as Bhatt’s personal assistant from 2021 to 2024, during which she managed the actress’s financial documents, payments, and scheduling. According to police sources, Shetty allegedly created fake bills and convinced Bhatt to sign them, subsequently diverting the funds. She reportedly informed Bhatt that these expenses were for travel, meetings, and other arrangements.

The investigation revealed that Shetty used professional tools to make the fake bills appear legitimate. Once signed by Bhatt, the funds were transferred to an account belonging to Shetty’s friend, who then funneled the money back to her.

After Soni Razdan’s complaint, Shetty evaded capture by frequently changing locations. The police tracked her movements from Rajasthan to Karnataka, then Pune, and finally Bengaluru. Juhu police eventually apprehended her in Bengaluru and brought her back to Mumbai on a transit demand.