Bollywood star Alia Bhatt’s former personal assistant, Vedika Prakash Shetty, has been arrested for allegedly siphoning off more than ₹76 lakh from Alia’s production company, Eternal Sunshine Productions.
The Mumbai Police revealed that Vedika, who was recently taken into custody in Bengaluru, had been handling key financial responsibilities at Eternal Sunshine.
She had been working closely with the company since 2022 and was reportedly trusted with overseeing expenses and managing accounts.
However, over a period of two years, from August 2022 to 2024, Vedika Prakash Shetty allegedly misused her access and slowly embezzled funds from the company’s account.
The total amount in question exceeds ₹76 lakh.
The issue came to light after Alia’s mother, Soni Bhatt, noticed discrepancies and filed a formal complaint at the Juhu Police Station earlier this year.
Following the investigation, a case was officially registered against Vedika on January 23, 2025, under Sections 316(4) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which cover offenses related to criminal breach of trust and misappropriation.
The arrest was made by Mumbai Police after they tracked Vedika down in Bengaluru. She was brought back to Mumbai for further questioning and legal proceedings.
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The case has now sparked conversations in the entertainment industry about the risks of financial mismanagement and misplaced trust. This holds true especially within small, tight-knit production teams.
Meanwhile, Alia Bhatt is choosing to stay focused on her work amidst this personal and professional setback.
She is currently neck-deep in filming ‘Alpha’, a high-octane action drama directed by Shiv Rawail. The film is a part of the ever-expanding YRF Spy Universe. It is ready to hit the big screen on December 25.
Alia is also reuniting on-screen with her husband Ranbir Kapoor and actor Vicky Kaushal in ‘Love and War’. It is a Sanjay Leela Bhansali directorial that is already generating huge buzz.
She, however, has not made a public statement yet regarding the financial controversy. The matter is now with the legal authorities, and proceedings are ongoing.