Burqa, Bounties and Betrayal: Murder Suspect Shraddha Dubey Nabbed in Nagpur
UP Police capture wanted murder suspect Shraddha Dubey in Nagpur after an 11-day manhunt. Read the details of the operation and the case.
In a high-stakes joint operation, the Uttar Pradesh Police and the Nagpur Police Crime Branch have successfully apprehended Shraddha Dubey, the primary suspect in the brutal murder of restaurant owner Shiva Sharma. Dubey, who had been on the run for approximately 11 days, was finally cornered in Nagpur, ending a frantic manhunt that saw authorities increase the bounty on her head.
The Manhunt and the Bounty
The pressure on the suspects intensified as the police ramped up their efforts to bring them to justice. Shraddha Dubey, along with her sister Rashmi Dubey and their driver, Danish (also known as Tanveer), were the targets of a significant manhunt. To expedite their capture, the reward for their arrest was doubled, jumping from 25,000 rupees to 50,000 rupees. Non-bailable warrants had already been issued against the trio following the crime.
A Narrow Escape in Agra
Investigations have uncovered a thrilling sequence of events that occurred just before her arrest. It has been revealed that Shraddha Dubey spent 24 hours in Agra, narrowly escaping the clutches of the law. CCTV footage from the Om Palace Hotel in Taj Nagari Phase-1 provides a glimpse into her attempts to stay hidden.
The footage shows Dubey entering the hotel at 6:53 a.m. on October 17. To evade detection, she reportedly wore a burqa to conceal her identity. She was accompanied by another woman and a man who was listed in the hotel's guest register as Devraj Yadav. In a cinematic twist, Dubey checked out of the hotel at approximately 6:30 a.m. on October 18—just moments before the Special Task Force (STF) and local crime branch teams arrived to raid the premises.
Claims of Innocence and International Ties
While evading the police, Dubey attempted to control the narrative of the crime from afar. She released a video from Nepal, in which she vehemently claimed her innocence. In the clip, she alleged that Shiva Sharma had not been murdered but had instead died by suicide.
Administrative Fallout and Legal Troubles
The gravity of the case and the subsequent investigation have led to significant shake-ups within the police department. DCP Central Zone Vikrant Veer has been removed from his current post and attached to the DGP headquarters. This follows the earlier removal of Hazratganj Inspector Vikram Singh.
Beyond the murder allegations, Shraddha Dubey's legal woes extend to financial crimes. She is currently embroiled in a separate cyber fraud case. A court in Saharanpur has recently issued a notice regarding a plea she made for the release of a seized Skoda Superb car linked to that investigation.