Lucknow: Police traced model and social media influencer Shraddha Dubey and her associates to Nagpur after following a trail of WhatsApp calls, internet connection details and a key lead from a cab driver, leading to their arrest on Oct 20 in the death case of Lucknow restaurateur Shiva Sharma.Investigators said the three had evaded arrest for several days by shifting locations repeatedly while on the run. Their constant movement complicated the chase as police relied heavily on technical surveillance tied to the internet connections used for WhatsApp calling. Officials said these internet connection details typically took 14 to 15 hours to reach investigators, putting police almost three hours behind the suspects’ movements.To stay ahead, the accused allegedly ensured they did not remain at any location for more than 12 hours, moving on before police teams could reach addresses identified through surveillance inputs.The investigation gained momentum after police identified and questioned a cab driver who had transported the trio to Nagpur.According to police, Shraddha was using the mobile phone of her driver, Danish, largely for WhatsApp calls. During the journey, she also allegedly accessed the internet through a mobile hotspot provided by the cab driver to continue communicating.The cab driver dropped them in Nagpur late on Oct 19 and waited outside a hotel for another passenger who had booked a ride to Kanpur. Police traced the driver and interrogated him, and the information he provided helped narrow down the search area in Nagpur.With the fresh lead, a police team reached Nagpur and stepped up surveillance, waiting for another WhatsApp call that could pinpoint the suspects’ exact location. Police said the break came when Shraddha allegedly made a call, allowing investigators to trace the signal to a flat at the Pro-Zone Calm apartment complex in Chinchbhan, Nagpur.Officers reached the apartment on the afternoon of Oct 20 and knocked, but those inside allegedly refused to open the door. Police then sought assistance from Nagpur Police. After intervention, the door was opened and Shraddha Dubey, her sister Rashmi Dubey and driver Danish were apprehended.The three were brought back to Lucknow. Shiva Sharma died after falling from the fourth floor of an apartment near Balu Adda in Hazratganj on Oct 9. Police had announced a reward of ₹50,000 each for information leading to their arrest.
