Lucknow, Oct 22 Police on Thursday questioned prime suspect model Shraddha Dubey and two others here and sent their mobile phones and other items for forensic analysis in connection with the investigation into the alleged murder of cafe owner Shiva Sharma.
Shraddha, 31, her sister Rashmi Dubey and driver Danish, who were arrested in Nagpur, were brought to Lucknow on transit remand and quizzed by the investigating team, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Central) Arpit Vijayvargiya told reporters.
The three accused were produced before Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate Balwan Kumar Bhartim who remanded them in judicial custody for 10 days, according to police officials.
Sharma (28) died after allegedly falling from the balcony of an apartment in the Balu Adda area under the Hazratganj police station limits on October 9. His mother lodged a murder case against Shraddha, alleging that her son was assaulted and tortured before being thrown from the apartment.
Initially, the police treated the incident as an accidental death, but they later registered a murder case following the family’s allegations.
“The investigating officer and his team have conducted detailed questioning. The phones and other items recovered from them are being sealed and sent for forensic analysis,” Vijayvargiya said.
The police have recovered two mobile phones and are identifying the other phone numbers associated with the accused to trace additional devices, he said.
“We will conduct a detailed investigation into all the aspects that have emerged from their statements. We are also gathering information about who helped them during these 10 days and where they stayed. Those who assisted them will be identified and strict action will be taken against them,” the DCP said.
The accused were questioned at the Hazratganj case for over five hours before being taken to the Civil Hospital for medical examination, officials said.
On the run since Sharma’s death, officials say Dubey, her sister and driver were believed to have gone to Nepal, then the Delhi National Capital Region and thereafter Nagpur in Maharashtra, from where they were held.
The police had announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for information leading to their arrest.
In videos circulated on social media, Shraddha has denied involvement in Sharma’s death and claimed that he jumped from the balcony after going into a bathroom at her residence. She has also alleged that he was under a debt of Rs 15 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and had threatened to end his life if he failed to repay it.
She has maintained that CCTV footage would establish what happened and denied allegations of assault or torture.
An audio recording circulating on social media purportedly captures a conversation in which Sharma admits to taking and selling jewellery belonging to Shraddha. She is heard claiming that the jewellery was worth around Rs 6 lakh and asking when the money would be returned.
(PTI News)
