Mumbai, May 31: Surendra Shetty, father of actress Shilpa Shetty, facing arrest in a case of alleged extortion is absconding since yesterday after a court in Surat town of Gujarat rejected his bail plea, police said here today. Surendra has been charged with `hiring' a gangster to recover Rs 80 lakh payable to his daughter Shilpa by owner of Praful Saree Company Pankaj Rawal for modelling in an ad film.

A team of Surat police arrived here this morning to arrest Surendra. They went to his residence in sub-urban Versova and also visited his factory at 7 am but he was not traceable. Even Shilpa is away in Bangalore for a film shoot, senior inspector of Surat police B V Ramani said on phone.

Surat police has sought help of Mumbai Police to arrest Surendra. Surat city Police Commissioner V K Gupta has written to his counterpart in Mumbai R S Sharma in this regard.
A Surat court yesterday turned down bail plea of Surendra saying that there was prima facie evidence against him. Police have with them a taped telephonic conversation between Surendra and Shilpa's mother Sunanda with Pankaj Agrawal which allegedly indicate that the latter was threatened to pay the dues.

Umra police in Surat registered a case against Surendra, Sunanda and a gangster charging them with extortion and conspiracy.

Sunanda arrived here yesterday from Dubai and was arrested at the international airport by Sahar police. However, she was released on bail of rs 40,000 in keeping with an order of a Mumbai sessions court.
Sunanda had urged for transit bail and the court in Mumbai granted her the facility till June 12 and asked her to seek regular bail in a court in Surat.

Bureau Report