Questions are being raised over the Lucknow Police investigation into the murder case of businessman Shiva Sharma. Despite the completion of the initial 10-day judicial custody period, police did not file an application seeking custodial interrogation of the three accused—Shraddha Dubey, her sister Rashmi and driver Danish. They were produced before the court through video conferencing on Saturday and were subsequently sent back to jail for another 14 days in judicial custody.

How the Case Began
Shiva Sharma, a café owner and businessman, died under suspicious circumstances on the night of October 9, 2026, in Lucknow. He reportedly fell from a fourth-floor flat at Awadh Green Apartment in the Balu Adda area of Hazratganj. The flat was associated with Shraddha Dubey, a model and social media influencer from Rae Bareli. Following the incident, a murder case was registered against Shraddha and others. The accused reportedly went missing after the incident.

Shraddha Dubey Arrested in Nagpur
According to the report, Shraddha allegedly fled to Nepal with her sister Rashmi and driver Danish. She reportedly planned to travel onwards to Dubai, but the plan did not materialise. She later returned to Lucknow, made a statement to the media and went missing again. A team of the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) subsequently arrested her from a flat in Nagpur and brought her to Lucknow. A court initially remanded her to 10 days of judicial custody.

No Police Custody Remand Application Raises Questions
After the initial custody period ended, Shraddha, Rashmi and Danish were produced before the court through video conferencing. It was expected that police would seek their custody for further questioning, particularly because investigators had earlier indicated that custodial interrogation would be required. However, no such application was filed, and the court extended their judicial custody by another 14 days. The decision has raised questions about the direction and pace of the investigation.

Missing Phone Remains a Key Part of the Investigation
The report also raises questions about the investigation into the accused's missing old mobile phone and other possible evidence. Police reportedly did not record the statements of the three accused during their 10 days in jail. Investigators recovered a new phone from Shraddha at the time of her arrest, but it was allegedly found formatted. She reportedly told police that her old phone had been lost somewhere in Nepal, while investigators suspect that it may have been damaged and discarded.

Police were reportedly hoping to use data from the old device to identify people who may have helped Shraddha travel to Nepal, return to Lucknow and later reach Nagpur. The whereabouts of the missing phone and the alleged assistance provided during her movements remain important questions in the ongoing investigation.