Shraddha Dubey, sister and driver taken to Lucknow from Nagpur in Shiva Sharma murder case

Shraddha Dubey, the main suspect in the murder of Lucknow businessman Shiva Sharma, was produced before a court in Nagpur on Wednesday. After the proceedings, a police team has left for Lucknow with all the accused on transit remand. The STF of Lucknow Police is reported to have obtained a 72-hour transit remand from the Nagpur district court.

Shraddha, her sister Rashmi Dubey and their driver Danish were arrested on Tuesday. The action was part of a joint special operation by the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force and Lucknow Police. The three had been absconding for several days, and a reward of Rs 50,000 had been announced on each of them. Several special police teams had been conducting raids continuously.

The case began on October 9. On a complaint by Shiva's mother, Ranjana Sharma, a murder case was registered at Hazratganj police station in Lucknow under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

The mother has given an account of that night. According to her, the first call came from Shraddha's sister, saying Shiva had fallen from a balcony and was being taken to Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital for treatment. She rushed to the hospital but found nobody there, and the counter had no record of Shiva being admitted.

When she called again, she was given the number of the driver, Danish. Danish said they were in the emergency ward of the medical college. When she reached there alone, she found an ambulance and Danish standing there. Asked what had happened to Shiva, Danish brushed her off, saying he was just a servant and knew nothing. He then fled the spot immediately.

Lucknow Police had initially announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for information on the accused, which was later raised to Rs 50,000. Surveillance units, the Special Operations Group (SOG) and several local police teams had been deployed for the search. After an intensive search, the three were caught in Nagpur.

After the arrests, the Lucknow police team had a medical examination done and then took the accused to Hudkeshwar police station in Nagpur. Belatrodi police station did not have facilities to keep women in custody, so Shraddha and her sister were kept in the lockup at Hudkeshwar station. After the court appearance on Wednesday, police completed the necessary formalities and took them to Lucknow.

Shraddha Dubey has denied all the charges. She claims Shiva died by suicide and that CCTV footage from his building will prove her innocence. According to Shraddha, she had known Shiva for only four months and the friendship lasted just two to two and a half months. She says he began visiting her home only in the last two months, and that no such enmity could develop in so short a time. She also alleged that Shiva's mother did not like her and is therefore making false accusations.

Shiva's mother, on the other hand, says her son was not suffering from any depression. She is demanding severe punishment and justice for her son as soon as possible.