05 January,2026 03:40 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
Athiya Shetty and Arshad Warsi
Using the names of Bollywood actors Athiya Shetty and Arshad Warsi, an alleged financial fraud worth Rs 1.41 crore has come to light. The Amboli police have booked three individuals for allegedly siphoning off funds from Hari Media Network Private Limited. The accused have been identified as Rishbh Sureka (former senior manager), Yash Nagarkoti (CEO of Hooray Movies), and Ashay Shastri, who allegedly forged the signature of Suniel Shetty's daughter and also created a fake email ID in actor Arshad Warsi's name to commit the crime.
Hari Media Network, an agency providing advertising and marketing services, has its head office in Haryana and a branch in Andheri West, Mumbai. Sureka joined the agency in July 2023 and was authorised to handle influencer branding, project coordination, and communications with the finance team and the CEO.
According to the FIR registered by Amboli police, the prime accused, Rishbh Sureka, allegedly forged Athiya Shetty's signature to fraudulently secure advertising deals without the knowledge or consent of the actress or her talent management agency.
The investigation reveals that in January 2024, Sureka approached Matrix Entertainment, the agency that officially manages Athiya Shetty, using the company's email credentials. Through a forged signature of the actress, he collected Rs 15 lakh on her behalf and never passed it on.
Instead, investigators claim the funds were misappropriated by Sureka for personal use. To get more money, Sureka also created a fake Zomato invoice under the names of Shetty and cricketer KL Rahul.
Officials have clarified that Athiya Shetty had no role in the transaction and was completely unaware of the forged agreement and financial dealings carried out in her name. He also allegedly created a fake email ID in actor Arshad Warsi's name to commit the crime.
Suniel Shetty's daughter has been away from films for quite some time; however, she remains in the news for her personal life. She got married to noted cricketer KL Rahul in 2023, and the couple welcomed their first bundle of joy on March 24, 2025. A few weeks after their baby's birth, the couple announced the name Evaarah and shared its meaning. Recently, they celebrated the New Year with their little munchkin.
