A fresh piece of CCTV footage has emerged in the ongoing investigation into the death of Lucknow-based businessman Shiva Sharma, providing new visual evidence to authorities weeks after his fatal fall from a residential complex. The footage, dated August 4, depicts the 28-year-old businessman in the company of model and social media influencer Shraddha Dubey and her sister, Rashmi Dubey, at the Awadh Green Apartment in Lucknow. Recorded at approximately 1:30 am, the video appears to capture the trio as they left the building, presumably to attend a party.
In the video, Shraddha, 31, is seen walking downstairs while holding hands with Sharma. Her sister, Rashmi, is also visible in the frame. This recording is being scrutinized by investigators as they piece together the events preceding the death of Sharma, who died on October 9 after falling from the balcony of a flat within the same residential complex. While initial reports treated the incident as an accidental death, the case was subsequently escalated to a murder investigation following formal allegations lodged by the victim's family.
Relatives of the deceased have alleged that Sharma was subjected to physical assault and torture before being thrown from the building. These serious accusations prompted the police to register a murder case, triggering an 11-day search for the suspects. Following a pursuit that reportedly spanned several locations, including Nepal and Delhi-NCR, the police successfully apprehended Shraddha, her sister, and a driver named Danish in Nagpur on October 20. All three individuals are currently being held in judicial custody.
The investigation has also brought to light an audio recording circulating online, which reportedly features a conversation between Sharma and Shraddha regarding the sale of jewellery. In the clip, Shraddha is heard questioning Sharma about the proceeds from the sale of jewellery she valued at approximately Rs 6 lakh. Authorities are now evaluating this audio evidence alongside the newly released CCTV footage and various witness statements to ascertain the sequence of events that led to the fatal night in October.
Throughout the legal proceedings, Shraddha has consistently denied any involvement in the death of her former partner. In videos previously shared on social media, she maintained that Sharma died by suicide, claiming he entered a bathroom at her residence before eventually jumping from the balcony. Furthermore, she alleged that the businessman was under significant financial pressure due to a debt of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and had previously threatened to end his own life if he could not clear his outstanding dues. She has explicitly rejected the claims that he was assaulted or tortured before the incident.
The police, who had previously announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to the whereabouts of the suspects, continue to examine these conflicting accounts. As the investigation remains active, officials are working to verify the claims made by the accused against the evidence gathered from the apartment and other sources. The judicial process continues as police aim to determine whether the death was the result of a deliberate crime or the suicide reported by the primary suspect.
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