A joint operation by the Lucknow Police and the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) culminated in the arrest of model and social media influencer Shraddha Dubey, her sister Rashmi Dubey, and their driver, Tanveer Ali, also known as Danish. The three suspects were apprehended in Nagpur on Tuesday, ending an 11-day, multi-state manhunt that began shortly after the death of Lucknow-based businessman and cafe owner, Shiva Sharma.
Shiva Sharma died on October 9 after falling from the fourth floor of the Awadh Green Apartments, located in the Hazratganj area of Lucknow. Following the incident, Sharma’s mother, Ranjana Sharma, filed a formal complaint naming Shraddha, her sister, their driver, and an associate identified as Adil. The complaint alleged that the victim had been subjected to months of physical violence, threats, and systematic blackmail.
As the investigation unfolded, the whereabouts of the accused remained unknown, triggering a massive search operation. During the manhunt, law enforcement agencies pursued leads across several states, including reports that suggested the suspects might have fled to Nepal. At one point, police received intelligence that the group had stayed at the Om Palace Hotel in Agra on October 17, departing the premises early the next morning. To accelerate the investigation, authorities issued non-bailable warrants and doubled the reward for information leading to each suspect's capture from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000.
Prior to her arrest, Shraddha Dubey, who maintains a significant social media presence with over 1.41 lakh followers, addressed the situation through a public video. In the recording, she claimed that Sharma’s death was a suicide rather than a criminal act. She further requested that the public avoid associating her with politicians or government officials and stated that she was prepared to cooperate with the police to provide a truthful statement regarding the events.
The progress of the case has drawn considerable public and administrative attention. Amidst mounting allegations of delays in locating the suspects, the police department faced internal scrutiny, resulting in the removal of three officers from their respective posts. The investigation into the circumstances of the fall continues as police analyze CCTV footage and other evidence to establish a definitive timeline of events leading to the fatal incident.
Family members of the deceased have raised specific concerns regarding the treatment of the businessman in the period leading up to his death. They allege he was physically assaulted prior to his fall from the apartment building. Furthermore, questions have been raised regarding the medical care Sharma received during his hospitalization following the incident. Police officials have confirmed they are currently reviewing these claims as part of the broader criminal investigation.
As the legal process moves forward, the arrests of the three primary suspects in Nagpur represent a significant turning point in the case. Investigators are expected to continue questioning the individuals as they look to reconcile the conflicting accounts provided by the victim's family and the accused. The police maintain that they are examining all available evidence to determine the exact sequence of events that occurred at the Awadh Green Apartments on October 9.
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