Cafe owner falls to death from 4th floor, mother alleges torture by live-in partner

A 27-year-old cafe owner died after falling from the fourth floor of an apartment in Lucknow, with his family alleging that he was held captive, brutally tortured and thrown from the building by his live-in partner and her sister. Police have registered a case based on the family's complaint and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his death.The deceased, Shiva Sharma, ran a cafe in the area. The incident took place on Friday night at Awadh Green Apartment, leaving investigators to determine whether Sharma's death was an accident or the result of an alleged assault.FAMILY SEARCHED FOR SHIVA AFTER BEING TOLD OF ACCIDENTAccording to Sharma's mother, Ranjana Sharma, received a phone call from a woman named Rashmi Dubey at around 8.30 pm on Friday. Rashmi allegedly told her that Shiva had met with an accident and was being taken to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital.The family rushed to the hospital but could not find him there. After searching for around an hour and a half, they learnt that Shiva had been shifted to the emergency department of a medical college. According to the family, when they reached the emergency department, they found Danish, the driver of Rashmi's sister, Shraddha Dubey, standing near the ambulance carrying the injured man. The family alleged that Danish used to call them while posing as Saurav Kashyap.As soon as he saw the family, Danish allegedly abandoned the seriously injured Shiva and the ambulance before fleeing the spot. The ambulance driver told the family that he had been moving between Lohia Hospital and the medical college for the previous three hours with the injured man. Doctors examined Shiva and declared him dead.MOTHER ALLEGES BRUTAL TORTURE BEFORE DEATHShiva's mother alleged that her son had been held captive and brutally tortured before being thrown from the apartment. She claimed that his body bore multiple severe injuries, including fractures to both eyes and his jaw, broken ribs and a fractured leg. She also said blood was coming from his ears and nose.According to the family, there were visible marks of cigarette burns and scratches across his body. They have alleged that the injuries point to sustained physical torture before his death.The family further claimed that Shraddha Dubey had been harassing Shiva for the past four to five months. They alleged that she had repeatedly assaulted him and threatened to implicate him in false cases and defame him.Around a week before the incident, the woman had allegedly visited the family's shop and threatened them, demanding that they hand Shiva over to her. According to the family, she warned them that they would face the consequences if they did not comply.The family also alleged that people associated with the accused side had been conducting surveillance of their home and shop.POLICE PROBE WHETHER SHIVA WAS PUSHEDAssistant Commissioner of Police Rajneesh Verma said Shiva had fallen from the fourth floor of the apartment and subsequently died. He confirmed that a case had been registered under relevant sections based on the complaint filed by the family. The building where 27-year-old cafe owner Shiva Sharma lived and from where he allegedly fell to his death in Lucknow. Police are investigating whether Shiva was pushed from the building or whether another set of circumstances led to his death. Investigators are examining the technical and forensic aspects of the case to establish what happened.The allegations against Shiva's live-in partner and her sister remain under investigation.- Ends