Three Arrested in Nagpur Over Lucknow Cafe Owner’s Death

After 11 days on the run, model and influencer Shraddha Dubey, her sister Rashmi, and their driver were arrested in Nagpur on Tuesday. The three are accused in the death of Lucknow cafe owner Shiva Sharma, who fell from an apartment building on October 9. Police say a joint team from Uttar Pradesh and Nagpur made the arrests. ^1,7

The arrests followed Sharma’s fall from the fourth floor of Awadh Green Apartments in Lucknow’s Hazratganj area. Police first treated his death as an accident, then opened a murder case after his mother, Ranjana Sharma, accused Dubey and others of being involved. Officers searched across India and looked into reports that the accused had travelled to Nepal. A vehicle registered to Dubey was found near the Nepal border in Bahraich district. ^6,7

Ranjana Sharma’s accusation is central to a case whose key events remain disputed. Dubey has denied involvement and said Sharma jumped from her balcony after going into a bathroom. She also claimed he owed Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and that CCTV footage would show what happened. Those claims have not been proven. Police are investigating the death as murder; the arrests are one step in that inquiry, not a finding of guilt. ^2,12

The murder investigation has also become a political issue. Samajwadi Party leader Akhilesh Yadav said the case could bring down the Uttar Pradesh government and criticised the police response before the arrests. Police had announced a reward of Rs 50,000 each for information leading to the three accused. Lucknow Police Commissioner Tarun Gauba said they would be brought to Lucknow after a court gives permission to move them from Nagpur. Further legal steps and investigation will follow. ^6,16