Surat, June 27: A four-member team of Surat police has left for Mumbai early this morning to "collect information" about several persons named in the alleged extortion case involving parents of Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty and underworld gangster Fazlu Rehman, official sources said here. The police is also likely to "record statements" of Shilpa, the sources said.

The team, led by investigating officer D D Damor, would "collect information" in Mumbai about some accused, before the hearing on bail application of Shilpa's mother Sunanda, on June 30, it added.

"We will even record Shilpa's statement if she is available," a top official said.

The hearing on regular bail application of Shilpa's mother Sunanda, who is identified as the prime accused in the alleged extortion case, has been scheduled for hearing on June 30.

Meanwhile, Shilpa's father Surendra is likely to move a fresh bail application in the district and sessions court later in the day following the rejection of his bail plea by Chief Judicial Magistrate yesterday.
Umra police have registered a case against Surendra, his wife Sunanda and Malaysia-based gangster Fazlu Rehman, alleging that Shilpa's parents had "hired" underworld gangsters to extort Rs 80 lakh from Praful Saree owner Pankaj Agrawal payable to the actress for an ad film that she did in 1998.

Police claim to have recorded a taped conversation between Surendra and an underworld gangster.
Bureau Report