Mumbai: Surendra Shetty, father of actress Shilpa Shetty, facing arrest in a case of alleged extortion is absconding since from May 30, after a court in Surat town of Gujarat rejected his bail plea, police said.

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 on May 30 morning to arrest Surendra. They went to his residence in suburban Versova and also visited his factory at 07.00 hours (IST) but he was not traceable. Even Shilpa is away in Bangalore for a film shoot, senior inspector of Surat police B V Ramani told.

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 on May 30 turned down bail plea of Surendra saying 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 that 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 on May 30 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.

PTI