Alia Bhatt’s Former Personal Assistant Arrested for Alleged ₹76 Lakh Fraud in Mumbai
Mumbai Police have arrested Vedika Prakash Shetty, former personal assistant to actor-producer Alia Bhatt, on allegations of fraudulently obtaining over ₹76 lakh from Bhatt’s personal accounts and her production house, Eternal Sunshine Productions Pvt Ltd. The arrest was made by the Juhu Police after a formal complaint and preliminary investigation.
According to police officials, Shetty allegedly siphoned off funds by misusing her position and access to Bhatt’s accounts while managing transactions for the actor and her company. The alleged misappropriation of funds came to light recently when discrepancies were noticed in financial records, prompting an internal review before the matter was reported to the police.
The investigation is currently underway to trace the complete financial trail, and Shetty is being questioned regarding the method used to transfer funds into her accounts. A police official stated that further details regarding the charges under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code would be released following the remand process.
As of now, Alia Bhatt and her team have not issued an official statement on the arrest or the ongoing investigation. The actress is currently working on her upcoming Spy Universe film, Alpha, which is set for release on December 25, 2025, and is also preparing for Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War alongside Ranbir Kapoor and Vicky Kaushal.
Eternal Sunshine Productions, launched by Bhatt in 2021, aims to produce “happy, real, and timeless stories” with its debut film Darlings, co-produced with Shah Rukh Khan’s Red Chillies Entertainment, which released on Netflix in 2022. The production house is reportedly involved in multiple upcoming projects, although it is unclear if ongoing operations have been affected by the financial discrepancies discovered.
On social media, the arrest has led to discussions around the safety of financial data for public figures, with fans expressing shock over the alleged breach of trust. Some users noted the incident highlights the risks celebrities face from insiders, while others extended support to Bhatt, praising her professional composure amid personal setbacks.
Financial fraud involving close aides is not new in the entertainment industry, with previous instances reported by several Bollywood celebrities over the past decade, leading to calls for stronger financial oversight and audit practices within personal management teams.
