Lipstick marks, sex toys, drugs: UP tycoon falls to death from girlfriend's flat

A 28-year-old businessman died after falling from the fourth floor of his girlfriend's apartment in Lucknow on October 9, with his family claiming that his body bore injury marks and cigarette burns and had lipstick-like marks on his face and makeup on his body.The victim, Shiv Sharma, was wearing only his underwear when he was found, while police recovered sex toys and sexual enhancement medicines from the apartment. His mother, Ranjana Sharma, has accused his girlfriend, social media influencer Shraddha Dubey, of harassing and blackmailing him, and alleged that she pushed him to his death.Police have registered a murder case against Shraddha, her sister, their driver and two others following the complaint. Investigators are examining CCTV footage from the apartment complex, chats between Shiv and Shraddha, and other evidence to establish the circumstances surrounding his death.MOTHER ALLEGES HARASSMENT, BLACKMAILThe victim fell from the fourth floor of Awadh Green Apartment in the Hazratganj area. According to his mother's complaint, Shiv had been living with Shraddha for the past four months. Ranjana alleged that Shraddha and her driver, Adil, called her at around 7 pm on October 9, saying Shiv was unwell and needed to be taken to hospital. When she reached King George's Medical University (KGMU), she was shown her son's body, after which Shraddha and the others left, the mother claimed.Ranjana has accused Shraddha of threatening Shiv with being sent back to jail by invoking his past criminal case. She claimed that Shraddha frequently cited her alleged connections with politicians, senior bureaucrats and members of the Indian cricket team to intimidate him. The mother also alleged that Shraddha physically assaulted Shiv and that he feared being implicated in another case. She submitted chats between the two to the police as part of her complaint.CCTV FOOTAGE UNDER POLICE SCANNERPolice are examining CCTV footage from the apartment complex as part of the probe.In one clip, a group of people can be seen coming down from the apartment and leaving the premises. Another clip appears to show a white Audi arriving at the complex around 15 minutes after the incident.The car briefly turns near the apartment building before leaving. A secretariat pass was visible on the vehicle, according to the information provided. Police are investigating the car's identity and why it arrived at the complex.Investigators are also examining chats recovered in the case. The material is said to contain references to contacts with several political figures, though the nature of those communications and their relevance to the death remain unclear.Searches are underway at multiple locations, including in Delhi and Nepal, as police attempt to trace those connected to the case.GIRLFRIEND IS A SOCIAL MEDIA INFLUENCERShraddha Dubey is a social media influencer with around 1.41 lakh followers on Instagram. She has also appeared in some music albums.Shiv's family lives in Aliganj in Lucknow. He ran a clothing store called Vande Mataram Chikan and restaurants under the name Aangan.BUSINESSMAN HAD BEEN ARRESTED IN FIRING CASEShiv had also been named as an accused in a firing incident at Tinkle Pink Club in Gomti Nagar on August 30. A reward of Rs 50,000 had been announced for information leading to his arrest.The Special Task Force (STF) subsequently arrested him in Patna, Bihar. He was sent to jail and later released on bail.His mother has claimed that Shraddha used the threat of his being sent back to jail to blackmail him.Assistant Commissioner of Police Rajneesh Verma said a case had been registered on the basis of the family's complaint and efforts were underway to arrest the accused.Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding Shiv's death, including the family's allegations, CCTV footage and other material recovered during the probe.- Ends