Lucknow police launched a search for Shraddha Dubey, an influencer and make-up artist who has found herself at the centre of the investigation surrounding the death of 28-year-old cafe owner Shiva Sharma. Sharma died last week after allegedly falling from the fourth-floor flat of his partner, Shraddha Dubey, at Avadh Green Apartments.
The case gained fresh momentum after CCTV footage capturing Sharma's fatal fall surfaced publicly. Originally from Rae Bareli, Dubey has built a public profile through modelling assignments, beauty pageants, and fashion events, accumulating over 141,000 followers on Instagram and reportedly winning the title of Best Face of Lucknow. She was also featured in a music video released by a prominent music company about seven years ago.
According to records, Dubey divorced her husband in 2022 and later moved into the rented flat where the incident occurred. The couple shares a son, who lives with the ex-husband.
The cafe owner's mother, Ranjana Sharma, has filed accusations against Dubey, her sister Rashmi, and several others, alleging they assaulted, harassed, and blackmailed her son before he died. An official First Information Report details a post-mortem report citing multiple external injuries and extensive internal trauma, including damage to the lungs, liver, and spleen, with the cause of death attributed to shock and haemorrhage. The report also alleges that the victim's body bore cigarette-burn marks.
Sharma, who lived with his family in Aliganj, operated two restaurants in addition to a cafe. Authorities noted he had previously been named as an accused in a firing incident at a Gomti Nagar nightclub on August 30 and had been released on bail prior to his death.