The Special Task Force of Uttar Pradesh Police on Tuesday arrested makeup artist, model, and social media influencer Shraddha Dubey in Shiva Sharma death case from Nagpur. (Img: X)
Nagpur/Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (UP STF), in a joint operation with Lucknow Police and Nagpur Police on Tuesday arrested social media influencer, model and makeup artist Shraddha Dubey in connection with the death of businessman Shiva Sharma.
Lucknow Police Commissioner Tarun Gauba confirmed that a joint team of Lucknow Police, Nagpur Police and UP STF arrested Dubey, her sister Rashmi and driver Tanvir alias Danish from Nagpur in connection with the Shiva Sharma case. All three were carrying rewards of Rs 50,000 each.
According to Uttar Pradesh Police ADG (Law and Order) Amitabh Yash, the accused would be brought to Lucknow on transit remand after the completion of legal formalities. Further legal proceedings in the case are underway, he added.
Dubey had previously denied the allegations against her, maintaining that Sharma died by suicide after allegedly jumping from the fourth floor of her building. She had urged investigators to retrieve CCTV footage from the premises, arguing that the recordings could help establish the sequence of events.
A case was registered under section 103(1) BNS at Lucknow’s Hazratganj police station on October 17 following a written complaint by Sharma’s mother. The complaint named Shraddha Dubey, her sister Rashmi Dubey, their driver Danish and some unidentified individuals as accused.
According to earlier police statements, all three named individuals had been absconding after the case was registered. Investigators subsequently formed dedicated teams involving surveillance personnel, the Special Operations Group and local police to trace the accused. Non-bailable warrants were also obtained against the three individuals.
The Lucknow Police had earlier doubled the reward for information leading to the apprehension of the accused, raising it from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000 for each individual. A court in Saharanpur had also issued a notice to one of the accused and scheduled a hearing for October 30, directing Dubey to present her defence on that date. The latest arrest now represents a major development in the ongoing investigation.
Before her arrest, Dubey publicly rejected the allegations and questioned why CCTV recordings from her building had not been retrieved or made public. She argued that footage from other locations, including the Nepal border, had reportedly been obtained, and sought an explanation for the delay in accessing recordings from the building where Sharma allegedly fell.
Dubey maintained that the footage could clarify what happened before Sharma’s death and support her version of events. She also rejected the allegations levelled against her by Sharma’s mother, asserting that the accusations should not be treated as proof of guilt before the investigation is completed.
Her account remains an allegation and has not been independently established. Investigators will need to examine the available forensic evidence, CCTV recordings, witness statements and other material to establish the sequence of events.
In her earlier account, Dubey said she had known Sharma for approximately four months and that they had been friends for around two to two-and-a-half months. She claimed that Sharma had begun visiting her residence during the final two months of their association.
Dubey further alleged that Sharma was under financial pressure, claiming he owed between Rs 16 lakh and Rs 17 lakh and was distressed by repeated calls from creditors. She also accused him of taking jewellery worth approximately Rs 5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh from her residence about a month before the incident.
According to Dubey, Sharma had promised in a video to return the jewellery. These claims have not been independently verified and should be treated as allegations rather than established facts. Their relevance to the case, if any, will depend on the evidence collected by investigators.
Dubey had also faced questions about why she left while Sharma was being taken to hospital. In response, she claimed that she was experiencing breathing difficulties, was in shock following the incident and had personal reasons for leaving.
She further alleged that her driver had been assaulted, causing him to panic and leave the scene. The circumstances surrounding these claims have not been independently established.
Dubey also objected to photographs of her with different individuals circulating on social media and denied claims that a purported diary had exposed the case. Addressing speculation about her sister, she maintained that Rashmi Dubey had no knowledge of the incident. These assertions will need to be assessed against the evidence gathered during the investigation.
Police had earlier indicated that teams were conducting raids at possible hideouts and pursuing leads to locate the accused. Authorities had also confirmed that a surrender application had been received from one of the accused, with the necessary legal procedures to follow. The latest arrest of Shraddha Dubey changes the status of the investigation, while the position of the other accused will need to be confirmed by the authorities.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Vikrant Veer had previously stated that Sharma sustained injuries after falling from a height onto a rough surface, resulting in his death. Further details concerning the precise circumstances and the evidence supporting the allegations have not been established in the information available.
With Dubey now arrested, investigators are expected to pursue the relevant lines of inquiry, including the circumstances preceding Sharma’s death, the availability and authenticity of CCTV footage, the allegations made by the complainant and the accounts provided by the accused.
The case remains a matter for investigation and judicial determination. The allegations against the named individuals must be assessed through due legal process, and no accused person should be treated as guilty solely on the basis of allegations.
