Alia Bhatt Duped of ₹77 Lakh by Her Own Manager, Masterminding Scam Over 2 Years

Mumbai(The Uttam Hindu): Bollywood superstar Alia Bhatt, known for her top-tier acting and brand endorsements, has become the victim of a ₹77 lakh financial scam allegedly orchestrated by her former manager. The accused, Vedika Prakash Shetty, was arrested by Juhu Police and brought to Mumbai on transit remand from Bengaluru.

The fraud, which spanned from May 2022 to August 2024, came to light after Alia’s mother, actress Soni Razdan, lodged a complaint on January 23 at Juhu Police Station. Based on the FIR, police booked the case under IPC sections 316(4) and 318(4) for criminal breach of trust and cheating.

Investigations reveal that Vedika, who handled financial responsibilities for Alia during her tenure as manager (2021–2024), used forged documents to siphon off funds. She reportedly manipulated invoices through online tools, convincing Alia to sign fake expense documents for events and travel. The misappropriated money was then routed through a third party into her personal account.

Vedika was tracked down and arrested after a five-month investigation and is currently in police custody until July 10. Police say she previously worked with several other Bollywood celebrities as a personal manager. The case has stirred the entertainment industry and raised questions about trust and internal financial checks among top-tier celebrities.