Mumbai: Actress Shilpa Shetty's father Surendra Shetty on May 16 urged a sessions court in Mumbai to grant him anticipatory bail in an extortion case, registered in the textile town of Surat in neighbouring Gujarat.

His bail plea came up before sessions judge P V Bavkar, who decided to hear it on May 17, as Shetty approached him when the court was about to rise at the end of the day. Till then, the judge has not restrained police from arresting him.

In keeping with the established norms, the police would not arrest him until May 17 as the matter was sub-judice, his lawyer H H Nagi said.

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

Shilpa had featured in advertisements of Parag sarees some years back and certain money was due to her. As her dues were not paid, her father Surendra Shetty allegedly hired goons to recover the money.

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

Surat police has sought help of Mumbai police to arrest Shetty. Apprehending arrest, he moved a sessions court.

Shetty told reporters outside the court that allegations against him were false and he was not aware about any such case filed in Surat.

PTI