LUCKNOW: The search for absconding Shraddha Dubey, the prime accused in the high-profile Shiva Sharma death case, has reportedly extended beyond India, with investigators following leads suggesting that she may be in Nepal. Photographs circulating on social media and CCTV footage purportedly showing Dubey with her sister Rashmi Dubey and an associate identified as Adil have provided fresh clues in a case that has gripped Lucknow over the past week.According to reports, the trio was last traced to Mahinagar in Nepal, where CCTV cameras allegedly captured them crossing a road and entering a local bus station. Sources said the three spent the night at the facility and boarded a bus the following morning, leaving before law enforcement teams could reach the location. While the footage has sparked speculation, police are yet to officially verify the identities of the individuals seen in the videos.The reported Nepal trail has added a new dimension to the investigation into the death of 28-year-old businessman and restaurateur Shiva Sharma, who died after falling from the fourth floor of an apartment building near Balu Adda in Hazratganj on October 9. Sharma’s family has alleged foul play and accused Shraddha and others of involvement in his death. She has consistently denied the allegations.Investigators believe the accused may have fled Lucknow shortly after the incident. A major lead emerged when Shraddha’s Scorpio SUV, bearing registration number UP 32 QQ 0111, was reportedly found parked at a private parking facility in Rupaidiha in Bahraich district on October 10, near the India-Nepal border. The discovery strengthened suspicions that the accused may have crossed into Nepal after abandoning the vehicle.Police teams have been working across multiple locations to trace Shraddha, Rashmi and the third accused. However, despite the emergence of CCTV footage and photographs, their exact whereabouts remain unknown. Officials are attempting to verify the visuals and reconstruct the group’s movements after they allegedly entered Nepal.Lucknow Police have announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to Shraddha Dubey’s arrest. Similar rewards have also been announced for other accused in the case.Meanwhile, as police intensify efforts to track her down, Shraddha has continued to release video statements on social media defending herself against the allegations. In multiple videos posted over the past few days, she has claimed that Sharma died by suicide rather than murder. She has also appealed to the media and the public not to link her to politicians, bureaucrats or other influential personalities based on speculation and social media posts.In one of the videos, Shraddha alleged that Sharma was under severe financial stress and burdened with debts of ₹15 lakh to ₹20 lakh. According to her, he frequently received calls from creditors and had spoken about ending his life if he failed to repay the money. She has urged investigators to examine CCTV footage, mobile phone data and call detail records, claiming these would support her version of events. These claims have not been independently verified.Police say the circumstances leading to Sharma’s fall, the movements of the accused after the incident and evidence from multiple sources will be critical to the ongoing investigation. The case remains under investigation.
