Mumbai, July 9, 2025 — In a shocking turn of events, Vedika Prakash Shetty, a former assistant to two of Bollywood’s biggest stars — Urvashi Rautela and Alia Bhatt — has been arrested for allegedly defrauding Alia Bhatt of a staggering ₹77 lakhs. The financial discrepancies reportedly came to light after Bhatt’s mother, veteran actress Soni Razdan, noticed irregularities in both personal and production-related accounts, prompting an investigation.
According to police sources, the fraudulent activities were committed over a span of more than two years, from May 2022 to August 2024. The case involves embezzlement through falsified expenses and unauthorized fund withdrawals.
But the story doesn’t end there.
Soon after news of Vedika’s arrest broke, Meera Rautela, mother of actress and global icon Urvashi Rautela, came forward to reveal her own disturbing experience with Vedika, dating back nearly a decade. In an exclusive statement, Meera Rautela disclosed that she had previously filed complaints against Vedika for multiple acts of theft and deceit during her tenure as Urvashi’s 24/7 executive assistant between 2015 and 2017.
A Pattern of Deceit: The Rautela Family’s Allegations
In her detailed account, Meera Rautela expressed concern over the fact that the same individual who had once betrayed their trust had gone on to commit similar alleged acts with another high-profile family.
“Vedika Shetty was employed as a 24/7 executive assistant to my daughter during 2015–2017. She was hired to assist Urvashi during her post-Miss Universe commitments and subsequent Miss Universe India crown handover in 2016. At that time, she was entrusted with significant responsibilities — from handling Urvashi’s wardrobe to managing her personal effects,” Meera said.
However, according to Meera, things took a dark turn when the family began noticing suspicious behavior and eventually discovered multiple acts of theft by Vedika.
Stolen Belongings, Family Betrayal
Recalling a particular incident during the Miss Universe India 2016 crown handover ceremony, Meera shared a painful memory involving her elderly mother, who had traveled from Nainital to Mumbai to attend the event.
“My mother, who had come to attend the ceremony, kept a significant amount of money in her briefcase. While she was away visiting the doctor, Vedika, who had access to our home as Urvashi’s assistant, stole lakhs of rupees from that very briefcase,” Meera recounted.
The betrayal didn’t stop there. Meera also described another incident that took place the same day. While preparing for the red carpet event, Meera left her purse in Vedika’s custody as she was being fitted for sarees by her tailor. To her horror, she claims she personally witnessed Vedika stealing money from the purse.
“I saw her with my own eyes, standing in front of a mirror, taking money from my purse. When I confronted her, she denied everything — but I was absolutely certain of what I saw,” Meera stated.
False Claims and Fabricated Connections
Adding another layer to her story, Meera revealed that Vedika had claimed familial connections with Bollywood stars Shilpa Shetty and Suniel Shetty, a move allegedly intended to gain trust and credibility.
“She claimed to be a relative of Ms. Shilpa Shetty and Mr. Suniel Shetty. At the time, we had no reason to doubt her — she carried herself with confidence and knew the ins and outs of the industry,” Meera said. “But these false claims were part of a larger deception.”
Meera emphasized that Vedika’s actions led to severe financial and emotional distress for the family, especially for her elderly mother, who was deeply affected by the betrayal.
Early Complaints and Legal Action
After these incidents, Meera Rautela says she promptly reported Vedika’s actions to the local authorities. Although the matter did not gain widespread public attention at the time, it was officially documented.
Now, with Vedika’s arrest in Alia Bhatt’s case making headlines, the Rautela family feels that their concerns have finally been vindicated.
“When I heard about Vedika’s arrest in Alia’s case, I was not surprised,” said Meera. “This validates what we went through. We trusted her, and she violated that trust in the worst way possible. I hope justice is finally served, not just for Alia and her family, but for ours as well.”
The Alia Bhatt Case: A Serious Breach of Trust
In Alia Bhatt’s case, Vedika was reportedly handling sensitive financial and logistical duties within Alia’s personal and professional sphere, including managing funds for her production ventures. The irregularities first came to light when Soni Razdan noticed large unexplained withdrawals and unauthorized expenses.
Upon investigation, police confirmed that Vedika had allegedly siphoned off nearly ₹76.9 lakhs through various means. Her arrest follows months of inquiry and digital financial tracking, and authorities are reportedly considering the possibility of additional victims coming forward.
Industry Reacts to a Cautionary Tale
The case has sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, highlighting the vulnerability of celebrities to internal fraud. With public figures often relying on trusted personal staff to manage hectic schedules and sensitive tasks, this incident has sparked conversations around background checks, accountability, and personal security within Bollywood circles.
Insiders suggest that more individuals who have worked with Vedika in the past may now step forward with similar allegations.
Conclusion: A Reminder of the Importance of Vigilance
As the investigation into Vedika Prakash Shetty’s actions continues, both the Bhatt and Rautela families are hopeful that justice will be fully served. For Meera and Urvashi Rautela, this arrest serves not only as closure but as a reminder to others in the entertainment industry to be vigilant about who they place their trust in.
Vedika, once positioned in close proximity to some of Bollywood’s most celebrated stars, now faces serious legal consequences for her actions — and possibly further charges as more details unfold.
