Priyanka Chopra’s former PA arrested for fourth time

Ranjit Mahanti

BOLLYWOOD actress Priyanka Chopra’s personal assistant (PA) Arvind Upadhyay has been arrested for the fourth time in an alleged theft and cheating case. The first time he was arrested, it was for stealing Priyanka Chopra’s costly wristwatch. On February 23, 2016, officers of the LT Marg police station arrested Arvind Upadhyay  under sections 406, 420 and 34 of Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Previous articles
On August 25, 2014, ABI (abinet.org) published an article under headline “Priyanka Chopra’s former PA arrested for cheating” and on December 2, 2014, ABI (Akela Bureau of Investigation) published a second article under headline “Priyanka Chopra’s former PA arrested ‘again’ for cheating.”

First arrest
On November 28, 2007, the Samta Nagar police in Kandivali arrested Upadhyay on the complaint of Bollywood actress Priyanka Chopra. Upadhyay claimed he was then her personal assistant but sources said he was just a spot boy.

Priyanka was shooting for her film ‘Chamku’ at Thakur College in Kandivali. She had kept her Tag Heuer watch worth Rs 1 lakh and other personal belongings in her vanity vanin front of other staff. She had told Upadhyay to take care of it while she was shooting. A little later Upadhyay went to the shooting spot and informed Chopra that the watch was missing. She suspected Upadhyay. On November 28, 2007, she registered an FIR (copy with ABI) under section 379 of the IPC at the Samata Nagar police station. During the investigation Upadhyay admitted that he had indeed taken her watch. The police arrested Upadhyay for theft. After the incident Priyanka Chopra booted him out.

Upadhyay: Thief turned cheater
Upadhyay (38), a resident of Akash Nidhi apartment, Ramdev Park road, Mira Road, Thane district, in February 2013, floated a multi-solution company by the name ‘Santoshi Associates’ having office at Tanmay building, Hetal Park, Mira Road (east).

Upadhyay told people that he had purchased a plot amounting to Rs 2 crore at Ghodbunder road in Thane district. Showing the plot paper he offered that if anyone invested money in his scheme he would return the amount with 50 per cent profit within a month. As he was Priyanka Chopra’s former personal assistant, more than 100 people trusted him and invested crores of rupees.

A month passed by but Upadhyay did not return the money as promised to his investors. The investors started demanding their money back. After repeated attempts Upadhyay issued cheques to all investors but stopped the payment every time.

Second arrest
One of the investors was Balkishan Pathak alias B K a resident of Singhania building, Dadiseth Agyari Lane, Kalbadevi. Pathak (38) has invested Rs 1 lakh. Fed up, on June 4, 2014, Pathak complained (copy with ABI) to LT Marg police station. After a long investigation, on August 1, 2014, the police registered an FIR against Upadhyay and his wife Santoshi. On August 22, 2014, the LT Marg police arrested Upadhyay under sections 406, 420 and 34 of the IPC.

Third arrest
On November 27, 2014, the Azad Maidan police arrested Upadhyay under sections 420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on a complaint by Manoj Pathak in the same investment matter. Upadhayay’s wife Santoshi is also an accused in the matter and reported to be absconding.

Fourth arrest
On February 23, 2016, the LT Marg police station officers arrested Arvind Upadhyay and his friend Jagdish Brajlal Savjani under sections 406, 420 and 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Arvind’s wife Santoshi and a friend Ajit Mantri are also accused in the matter. They are absconding.

Once detained
Earlier in 2007, the Samata Nagar police had detained Arvind Upadhyay suspecting that he had stolen a mobile phone. He was released after the police found out that he was not involved in crime. Confirming about the fourth arrest of Arvind, investor advocate Anand Upadhyay said, “Arvind Upadhyay has now been arrested by the LT Marg police and earlier was arrested thrice. He is a habitual cheater and fraud.”