Entertainment

IIE DIGITAL DESK : Mumbai’s Juhu Police have arrested Vedika Prakash Shetty, the former personal assistant to Bollywood star Alia Bhatt, in connection with an alleged ₹76–77 lakh embezzlement from both the actress’s personal bank accounts and her production house, Eternal Sunshine Productions Pvt. Ltd. The arrest took place on the evening of July 8, 2025, in Bengaluru—nearly five months after a formal complaint was lodged by Alia’s mother, Soni Razdan.

Investigators allege that Vedika, who was employed from 2021 until 2024, orchestrated the fraud between May 2022 and August 2024, using forged invoices and falsified signatures purportedly made by Alia Bhatt. These documents were then presented to siphon funds, which were routed through the bank account of an accomplice before finally landing in Vedika’s own account .

Following the complaint filed in January 2025, the police initiated a thorough look into finances tied to both Alia Bhatt and Eternal Sunshine Productions. Suspicious activities triggered the FIR under sections related to criminal breach of trust and forgery. Vedika responded by absconding, which prompted Mumbai police to track her across states—leading to her arrest in Bengaluru and subsequent transfer to Mumbai custody .

Court documents indicate that Vedika was taken before the Bandra Magistrate, where she was remanded in police custody through July 10.The police are continuing to scrutinize her financial transactions and digital records to determine the full scope of the alleged fraud and identify any other accomplices involved.

Sources describe this as a severe breach of trust, given Vedika’s clean access to financial affairs and intimate knowledge of Alia’s routines. Indian media reports highlight that she used sophisticated software to create realistic invoices for routine expenses—like travel and meetings—which helped conceal her illicit transactions until discrepancies began to surface .

Despite the high-profile nature of the case, Alia Bhatt and Eternal Sunshine Productions have not issued any public comment thus far .

Eternal Sunshine Productions was launched by Alia Bhatt in 2021, and garnered attention with its debut film Darlings, co-produced alongside Red Chillies Entertainment and released on Netflix. Vedika Shetty played a central role in managing the company’s day-to-day operations and Alia’s personal finances during her tenure.

Observers and legal experts note how her trusted position enabled the alleged misappropriation over two years—raising urgent questions about internal financial control systems within celebrity-led enterprises.

With the arrest complete, investigators are examining bank statements and digital logs to trace every transaction linked to Vedika and her accomplice. The accomplice, whose bank account allegedly acted as a conduit, is also being questioned to help recover the diverted amount .

The legal proceedings are expected to unfold rapidly in Mumbai courts, where Vedika could face charges including cheating, forgery, and criminal breach of trust under relevant Indian Penal Code sections.

This incident delivers a stark reminder about the vulnerabilities in financial governance—especially in celebrity-led firms and personal offices where family members may not always be involved in financial oversight. The scandal also underscores the potential dangers of placing complete trust in close aides without adequate checks and balances.

Vedika Prakash Shetty, a former PA to Alia Bhatt, has been arrested for allegedly forging documents and embezzling nearly ₹77 lakh over a two-year span. The Mumbai police tracked her to Bengaluru after a complaint by Soni Razdan earlier this year. With charges under serious breach-of-trust and forgery laws, Vedika’s arrest has spotlighted critical lapses in financial oversight within celebrity enterprises. The legal process is now underway amid ongoing efforts to recover the funds.