In a surprising twist, Bollywood superstar Alia Bhatt’s former assistant, Vedika Prakash Shetty, has been arrested on charges of defrauding Bhatt’s production company of approximately Rs 77 lakh. According to sources at Hindustan Times, Shetty is accused of forging the actor’s signature and misappropriating funds that were allegedly used for personal expenses.

The alleged scheme reportedly involved fabricating documents under Alia Bhatt’s name, authorizing withdrawals from the production firm. Sources suggest that Shetty, trusted as a personal assistant, leveraged her position to bypass internal controls and access the funds over a period of time.

The matter came to light when there were disturbances in financial documents during the production company's internal audit and after that a forensic investigation was started. This huge amount of fraud surprised the management, due to which he contacted law enforcement agencies. Shetty was detained earlier this week and may be accused under sections of forgery and criminal betrayal.

Legal experts say that cases of such betrayal are taken very seriously in Indian law, especially when it involves access to high-profile celebrities and their property. If proved to be guilty, Shetty may have to suffer a jail sentence or penalty based on the court's decision.

Alia Bhatt's production house has restrained during the investigation of the entire case. He has expressed disappointment, but has not made any statement publicly. Although the actress is not directly involved in this scam, it is believed that she is fully cooperating with the authorities. Inner sources say that Alia is extremely hurt by this betrayal, which has also added a personal emotional side to this legal matter.

The incident is seen as a warning for the entertainment world, showing how expensive the negligence in the supervision of celebrity financial management can prove to be. As the matter progresses, the production house and celebrities will further strengthen their internal control and review their recruitment and audit processes.

Vedika Prakash Shetty is still under police supervision, and can be further interrogated and possible allegations in the coming weeks. The film industry is waiting for the result of this entire case, as a person working behind the screen has now emerged as the main character of a major fraud case.