July 11, 2025 | Mumbai (Desk) : A new development has emerged in the fraud case involving Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt, as Mumbai Police have revealed a possible connection to the United States. The case involves Alia’s former assistant, who allegedly misused her position to commit financial fraud amounting to several lakhs of rupees.

According to police officials, the assistant not only accessed the financial details of Alia’s production house but also made multiple purchases worth ₹4.36 lakh using the company’s name. These goods were delivered to several addresses - some of which were traced to international locations, including one in the US.

“We are investigating the transactions, and one of the addresses used for delivery is linked to a contact based in the United States. We are coordinating with cybercrime officials to verify whether the goods were forwarded internationally or if it was a case of identity misuse,” said a senior police officer from Mumbai’s economic offenses wing.

The fraud came to light after suspicious purchases appeared in the accounts of Alia’s production house. Initially believed to be routine office transactions, a deeper audit revealed that the items mostly high-end electronics and luxury goods were not accounted for within the team. That’s when the production house filed a complaint, prompting the police to launch an investigation.

The former assistant, whose name has not yet been publicly disclosed, was terminated a few weeks ago after internal concerns were raised. The police say she had access to company credit card details and official email accounts, which she used to place orders while disguising them as business expenses.

Further investigations have revealed that the fraud may have been ongoing for months, with some goods being shipped to rented apartments, local addresses, and now, possibly an overseas contact.

“We are checking whether the US connection was a drop location for reselling stolen goods or part of a larger scam,” the officer added.

Alia Bhatt has not commented directly on the matter but a spokesperson for her production house said, “We are fully cooperating with the police and hope the truth comes out soon. The company has zero tolerance for financial misconduct.”

Meanwhile, cybercrime experts have joined the probe, looking into how the assistant bypassed internal checks. Some reports suggest that fake invoices were created, and email trails were manipulated to avoid detection.

Fans and followers of the actress have expressed shock over the betrayal, especially since the accused was someone who had worked closely with her for a long time.

Police have not ruled out the involvement of others and are expected to make formal arrests soon. The possibility of an international angle has made the case more complex, and officials say they may seek assistance from agencies like Interpol or US-based cybercrime units if required.

As the investigation unfolds, the case highlights the importance of strong internal controls, even in celebrity-run businesses and how trust, once broken, can lead to serious consequences.