Alia Bhatt's ex-assistant, who is accused of fraud, is now linked to a US man and Urvashi Rautela's house thefts

Economic Times

11-07-2025

Synopsis
Following reports of embezzlement from Alia Bhatt, Urvashi Rautela's mother, Meera Rautela, alleges similar financial harm caused by Vedika Prakash Shetty, who served as Urvashi's assistant from 2015 to 2017. Meera claims Vedika stole cash from her mother's suitcase and was caught taking money from her purse, leading to emotional and financial strain on the Rautela family.
Alia Bhatt and Urvashi Rautela's Families Allege Fraud by Former Assistant Vedika Prakash Shetty Just hours following reports of Alia Bhatt's ex-assistant Vedika Prakash Shetty being taken into custody for reportedly embezzling funds from the actor, another shocking account has emerged. Meera Rautela, mother of Bollywood actress Urvashi Rautela, has now come forward, asserting that her family too endured considerable monetary damage due to Vedika's actions.
In a statement provided to IANS, Meera revealed that Shetty was once hired as a full-time executive assistant for her daughter between 2015 and 2017. Vedika was brought on board to assist Urvashi with her engagements following her return from representing India at Miss Universe in Las Vegas. During this time, Vedika was involved in managing several personal and professional matters, including wardrobe selection, event logistics, and handling personal items such as expensive gowns and accessories.
However, Meera claims their trust was soon betrayed. She stated that the family began to observe patterns of deception and misappropriation of resources, which eventually led to significant financial harm. Meera Rautela disclosed that during the Miss Universe India handover ceremony in 2016, her own mother had traveled from Nainital to Mumbai to attend the event. During her visit, she stayed at the Rautelas' residence. Vedika, owing to her close role with the family, had unrestricted access to their home. Meera alleged that during a moment when her mother had stepped out for a medical appointment, Vedika took advantage of the unattended situation. A substantial sum of cash, reportedly in the range of lakhs, was allegedly stolen from the elderly woman's suitcase. This incident deeply upset the family, especially as it involved a senior member of the household. On the same day as the crown handover event, Meera was preparing for the red carpet appearance and had left her handbag in Vedika's care while she worked on her sari fittings. Meera recalled standing in front of a mirror when she noticed Vedika allegedly removing cash from her purse. Despite being confronted, Vedika reportedly denied the act. Meera remained convinced of what she had seen and said the incident further raised suspicions about Vedika's behavior. These events, Meera claims, were part of a larger pattern of deceit. She also alleged that Vedika had made false claims about being connected to Bollywood stars Shilpa Shetty and Suniel Shetty, further damaging the family's trust. According to Meera, the cumulative effect of Vedika's actions caused not only financial difficulties but also emotional distress, especially to Urvashi's grandmother. The betrayal, involving someone they had trusted with personal access to their home, left the family shaken. In a separate case involving Bollywood star Alia Bhatt, Juhu Police officials told NDTV that Vedika allegedly defrauded the actress of Rs 77 lakh by transferring large amounts to various bank accounts and individuals. She had also reportedly leaked confidential internal data from Alia's production company, Eternal Sunshine Productions, to an unknown non-resident Indian (NRI) based in the United States. According to the police, Vedika served as Alia Bhatt's assistant from 2021 until their professional ties ended in 2024. Her responsibilities spanned managing daily schedules, business logistics, and operational duties within the production house co-managed by Bhatt's mother, Soni Razdan. Between May 2, 2022, and March 22, 2024, investigators discovered a series of unauthorized bank transfers. Significant sums were allegedly funneled from Alia's account to people such as Satvik Sahu (Rs 43 lakh), Simi John (Rs 57,000), Shashank Pandey (Rs 77,000), Chandni Jitendra Prasad Dixit (Rs 18 lakh), and Manish Sukhij (Rs 6 lakh). Further revelations included purchases made under the company's name. The police reported that goods worth Rs 4.36 lakh were ordered and sent to various delivery addresses. Among them were high-end gadgets like iPhones and iPads worth Rs 2.94 lakh. Authorities said the scam came to light in January 2024 when Vedika presented Alia with an invoice to clear payments for an event. Suspicious about the transaction, Alia contacted the phone number on the bill. The person who answered turned out to be a personal friend of Vedika. Alia then decided to get her financial accounts thoroughly reviewed, which led to the unearthing of the extensive fraud. According to earlier findings by the police, Vedika allegedly forged invoices and persuaded Alia to sign them by explaining that they were related to travel, meeting, or event expenses. Once approved, these amounts were reportedly funneled into her friend's account and later returned to Vedika through private transactions. The police confirmed that Shetty has been charged under legal statutes related to fraud, misrepresentation, and breach of trust. Vedika Prakash Shetty held the position of personal assistant to Alia Bhatt for over two years. Her duties involved overseeing Bhatt's calendar, handling production company transactions, and ensuring smooth day-to-day operations of Eternal Sunshine Productions.