Mumbai: A team of Surat police on June 28 recorded statement of a witness in a case of alleged extortion involving parents of actress Shilpa Shetty.

The four-member team, which has come for investigation, recorded statement of S Sunder Shekhar, leader of Bhartiya Minorities Surat Mahasangh and adopted son of former smuggler late Haji Mastan, investigating officer D D Damor, who is leading the Surat team said.

According to police, Shilpa's father Surendra Shetty and his driver Dilip Walsekar had sought Sunder Shekhar's help to recover Rs 80 lakh payable to the actress by a sari manufacturer, Pankaj Agarwal, for appearing in an ad film.

On Sunder Shekhar's advice, they had filed a complaint with Khar police station in Mumbai to recover the money, but police told them that this was a civil dispute and they would not be able to take any action, Damor said.

Surendra and Sunanda, Shilpa's mother, are facing the charge of 'hiring' gangsters to recover Rs 80 lakh payable to Shilpa by Agarwal. Police claimed to have recorded telephonic talks between Shilpa's parents and Agarwal, which allegedly reveal that the latter was threatened.

Inspector Damor said his team would also record Shilpa's statement but she is not available in Mumbai at present, as she has gone abroad for film shooting. Shilpa's statement would be very significant for the investigations, Damor added.

PTI