Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force and Lucknow Police cornered model Shraddha Dubey in Nagpur on Tuesday, breaking her 11-day run that began after Shiva Sharma fell from a Hazratganj apartment balcony on October 9. Dubey, the prime accused in the death that started as an accidental fall allegation before turning into a suspected murder case, was interrogated for hours by the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) before being sent to jail. She admitted to travelling to Kanpur and Agra but refused to name specific accomplices, repeatedly citing breathing difficulties and speaking issues during questioning.
Her escape route relied on avoiding identification checks. Dubey told investigators she visited a hotel in Kanpur on October 18 but left without booking a room when staff demanded ID, fearing her photo might go viral. She switched to cabs and smaller hotels or lounges where documents weren't required. "She used her driver, Danish, as a shield," officials said, suspecting he was kept close to prevent him from leaking her location.
The most significant admission came after hours of grueling interrogation. Dubey revealed that her boyfriend, Amir, had accompanied her from Lucknow and helped her cross into Nepal via Bahraich. Police are now preparing to add Amir’s name to the First Information Report (FIR) and announcing a reward for information leading to his arrest. The DCP (Central) stated that strict action will be taken against anyone found assisting the accused in evading the law.
Investigators are tracing Dubey's contacts in the locations she visited, suspecting a network was continuously guiding her to avoid arrest. She also attempted to reach her home in Rae Bareli but failed. The case, which saw Sharma’s family allege assault and torture prior to his death, now shifts focus to capturing Amir and identifying the remaining accomplices in the web that kept Dubey at large for over a week.