Shilpa Shetty's father seeks bail

Actress Shilpa Shetty's father Surendra has urged the sessions court in Mumbai to grant him anticipatory bail in an extortion case registered in the textile town of Surat in neighbouring Gujarat.

Shetty's plea came up before Sessions Judge P V Bavkar, who decided to hear it tomorrow, as Shetty approached him when the court was about to rise for the day. Till then, the judge has not restrained police from arresting Shetty. But in keeping with established norms, the police will not arrest him until tomorrow as the matter is sub-judice, his lawyer H H Nagi told the Press Trust of India.

Shetty has sought transit bail and asked the court to restrain the police from arresting him. He has pleaded that he will go to Surat and seek regular bail from a court there.

Shilpa Shetty had featured in advertisements of Parag Sarees some three years ago and some money was due to her. As her dues remained unpaid, her father allegedly hired goons to recover the money.

A case was registered at the Umra police station in Surat on a complaint filed by an industrialist. A member of a gang of extortionists was arrested and on interrogation reportedly told the police he was hired by Shetty to collect the money.

The Surat police sought the help of the Mumbai police to arrest Shetty. Fearing arrest, Shetty moved the sessions court.

Shetty later told reporters that the allegations against him were false and he was unaware of any such case filed in Surat.